MrBeast eyes presidential bid: Business savvy or risky gamble?
YouTuber MrBeast confirmed that he wants to run for the presidency of the USA. Is a country being run by businesspeople a good idea?
YouTube star MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) has confirmed his ambitions to run for the presidency of the United States in an episode of Theo Von's podcast. Donaldson is 26 years old and possesses a massive online platform — he is the most popular YouTuber globally. He also manages numerous business ventures, such as Lunchly, Feastables, and Beast Games, while maintaining the engagement of 335 million followers.
MrBeast wants to become President of the United States
When Von asked MrBeast if he still plans to run for president, he confirmed that he would most likely do it later in life. "If I were to do it, it would probably be like when I am 50 or 60. I would need to accomplish everything I want to in business and stuff and probably take 10 years and do something at the local and state level and work my way up," he stated. He added that he would like to get involved at the local and state levels first and then aim for higher positions.
Von’s question arose from the fact that in July 2024, MrBeast joked on X platform that he would run for president if the age requirement was lowered from 35 years. He wrote: "If we lower the age to run for president I’ll jump in the race." His tweet went viral. Donaldson added that if elected, he would focus on managing the world's largest economy. This caused quite a stir among his fans, who began expressing support for his ambitious plans.
Why is running a country by business a bad idea?
Contrary to a rather common belief, efficient state management does not equate to managing the economy. Certainly not in the way businesses are managed, which aims solely at maximising profits. The role of a democratic state is to ensure the safety of its citizens, not only territorially but also individually, including economically.
A good example of where running a country through business leads is the United States, where both parties are sponsored by billionaires. One of them was re-elected as president in November 2024. The wealthiest economy in the world is also a place of enormous social inequalities. According to statista.com, the richest 10% of Americans own 70% of the country's wealth. Meanwhile, 30% of U.S. residents live in poverty or just above its threshold. This leads to growing frustrations and social tensions, for which there is no answer from either of the parties funded by billionaire donations.
