Elon Musk Presses Trump for Favors After Supporting His Campaign
Elon Musk, who contributed over $100 million to Donald Trump’s re-election campaign, is reportedly asking for favors in return, potentially benefiting his companies, SpaceX and Tesla. Musk’s support for Trump is seen as influential in the election outcome, and the SpaceX CEO is now seeking appointments for SpaceX employees in top government roles, including at the Defense Department.
Trump’s relationship with Musk highlights the overlap of business and political interests, as Musk’s companies hold valuable government contracts, including a $4.4 billion NASA deal for moon missions and an $900 million bid to bring satellite internet to rural U.S. communities, which the FCC previously denied.
Securing inside government allies could bolster Musk’s interests in securing federal contracts and maintaining government funding for Tesla, including subsidies and tax breaks. Analysts note that having connections within a Trump administration could ease regulatory hurdles for Tesla’s self-driving technology and even influence policies related to environmental credits and carbon regulations.
Additionally, Musk’s support for Trump has already swayed Trump’s stance on electric vehicles; Trump reversed his previous position against EV tax breaks following Musk’s endorsement, showing the potential impact of Musk’s backing.
While some view Musk’s influence as beneficial for his business ventures, others, like Scott Amey of the Project on Government Oversight, express concerns that this could lead to decisions not in the taxpayers’ best interests, reflecting the cozy relationship between Musk and the White House.
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