In a major coup for Indian podcasting, Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath recently sat down for a surprise and wide-ranging conversation with the world's richest person, Elon Musk. The interview, conducted for Kamath's popular WTF Podcast, delved into profound topics like work, consciousness, family, money, artificial intelligence (AI), and the future.
The full video, posted on Nikhil Kamath's official YouTube channel on 30 November under the title 'Elon Musk: A Different Conversation w/ Nikhil Kamath', has taken the internet by storm. It has already garnered massive engagement, crossing 2,950,773 views, collecting over 1,32,000 likes, and sparking nearly 11,200 comments from a global audience.
Musk on Trump and Tariffs: "I Tried to Dissuade Him"
One of the most revealing segments of the conversation touched on Musk's brief experience within the Donald Trump administration, where he served as the chief of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). When Kamath probed him about his stance on tariffs, Musk revealed he actively tried to counsel the former US President against them.
"Generally free trade is better, more efficient. Tariffs tend to create distortions in markets," Musk explained, outlining his economic philosophy. He then added candidly, "The President (Donald Trump) has made it clear he loves tariffs. You know, I've tried to dissuade him from this point of view, but unsuccessfully." This admission provides a rare glimpse into Musk's behind-the-scenes political interactions.
"Politics is a Blood Sport": Musk's Business Advice
The discussion naturally flowed into the complex relationship between business and politics. Citing a historical anecdote about Michelangelo, Kamath asked for Musk's perspective. The billionaire's response was unequivocally cautious, born from his direct governmental stint.
"Not everything needs politics," Musk stated. "I think, once you get to a certain scale, politics finds you. I've generally found that when I get involved in politics, it ends up badly. So then I'm like, you know, 'Probably shouldn't do that. I should do less of that', is my conclusion."
He extended this advice to all business leaders, warning, "Yeah, probably. I mean, politics is a blood sport, you know? It's like you enter politics, they're going go for the jugular. So best to avoid politics where possible." This stark metaphor underscores his view of the political arena as high-risk for entrepreneurs.
DOGE's "Side Quest" and Billions in Savings
Reflecting on his time heading the DOGE, Musk described it as a "very interesting side quest" that allowed him to see the inner workings of the US government. He strongly defended the department's work, claiming it implemented simple, common-sense efficiencies that yielded massive savings.
He cited examples like mandating congressional payment codes and comment fields for federal payments. "My guess is it probably saves $100 billion or even $200 billion a year," Musk claimed. He also addressed the criticism such efficiency drives often face, stating that while fraudsters accuse the government of stopping essential payments, the reality was about cutting fraudulent and wasteful expenditure.
Beyond politics and government, the nearly two-hour conversation spanned Musk's thoughts on the dangers of "evil" AI, his investment philosophy, technology's trajectory, and the role of Indian talent in global companies like his own. The interview's viral success highlights the growing influence of Indian content creators in facilitating global dialogues with the world's most influential figures.
