How Elon Musk Is Influencing Donald Trump

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the potential conflicts of interest that could arise if Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and X, is appointed to lead a government efficiency commission by former President Donald Trump if he is elected in 2024. The article highlights Musk's close relationship with Trump and his influence over the Republican presidential nominee, as well as the potential for Musk's businesses to benefit from government contracts and subsidies.

🙋 Q&A

[01] Advertisement

1. What is the potential minefield in the fast-evolving political friendship between Elon Musk and Donald Trump?

• Musk's sprawling businesses may present conflicts of interest if Trump is elected president in November.

2. What did Musk suggest to Trump during their live-streamed conversation on X?

• Musk raised the idea of a "government efficiency commission" that could ensure taxpayers' money is "spent in a good way."

3. What did Trump say he planned to do if elected president?

• Trump said he planned to appoint Musk, who leads Tesla, SpaceX, and X, as the head of a new government efficiency commission.

4. What would the commission do according to Trump?

• The commission would audit the "entire federal government" and "make recommendations for drastic reforms."

[02] Musk's Influence on Trump

1. How has Musk started to influence Trump as the Republican presidential nominee heads into the election?

• Musk, the world's richest man, has the ear of the candidate, which opens up what each can get out of an alliance and creates a potential minefield.

2. What are some of the potential conflicts of interest with Musk's appointment?

• Musk's rocket maker, SpaceX, and his electric automaker, Tesla, have received billions of dollars in federal contracts and subsidies, and Musk and some of his companies are under scrutiny for various infractions from federal agencies.

3. How has Musk wooed right-wing world leaders before to benefit himself and his companies?

• In Brazil, he became close with then-President Jair Bolsonaro as he sought advantages for SpaceX, and he ardently supports President Javier Milei of Argentina, a country with abundant deposits of lithium, a mineral used in Tesla's car batteries.

4. What has Musk posted on X regarding government spending and the Biden administration's policies?

• Musk has posted messages excoriating the Biden administration's policies on government spending and criticizing the campaign promises of Vice President Kamala Harris.

[03] Musk and Trump's Relationship

1. How did Musk and Trump's political relationship develop?

• Their political relationship was kindled with a meeting in March in Palm Beach, Florida, as Trump sought cash infusions for his campaign, and Musk told a friend he wanted to keep his support for Trump quiet while backing him financially.

2. How has Musk's foray into supporting Trump's campaign not been smooth?

• Musk hired a team for a pro-Trump super PAC that he met through Texas politics, but fired them after about two months, replacing them with national political operatives who had worked for Governor Ron DeSantis.

3. How did Musk publicly express his support for Trump after an assassination attempt against him?

• Musk decided to publicly speak up about his support for the Republican candidate, fully endorsing Trump and hoping for his rapid recovery.

4. What did Trump say about Musk during their conversation on X and in a podcast appearance?

• Trump called Musk "the greatest cutter" and praised him for firing employees who wanted to strike, and later called Musk a "brilliant guy" who could be a consultant to his administration "involved in cutting some of the fat."