Elon Musk has been speaking with Donald Trump “a number of occasions a month,” about a variety of subjects, based on a brand new report from the Wall Street Journal. And whereas Musk has denied rumors that he may donate cash to the previous president, the brand new reporting signifies Musk is working behind the scenes to ensure his companies profit if Trump is elected once more in November.
Musk’s pleasant rapport with Trump is notable given the truth that the billionaire tech titan mentioned as not too long ago as 2022 that Trump ought to “sail into the sunset.” However loads has modified over the previous two years, together with Musk’s more and more weird obsession with illegal immigration, the problem that first made Trump a critical contender within the Republican Celebration again in 2015.
From the Journal:
The pair have held discussions on immigration, know-how and science, together with the U.S. Area Pressure. Their views and pursuits have grown extra aligned, the folks mentioned, with Musk calling Trump straight on his cellphone.
Current talks between the 2 males have additionally concerned Musk’s firms, together with SpaceX, Tesla, and X, based on the Journal. And that is sensible while you bear in mind how dependent Musk’s firms have been on authorities funding. SpaceX has huge contracts with navy and intelligence companies, and Tesla has benefited tremendously from EV tax credit.
The brand new reporting notes Musk and Trump have mentioned EV credit and the electrical car business extra broadly, citing folks near Trump, which is curious if solely as a result of the previous president has not too long ago mentioned he wants to stop all EV sales within the U.S.
Musk has additionally requested Trump to return to X, a platform Trump was banned from within the days after the tried coup of January 6, 2021. That was an period earlier than Musk owned the social media platform, after all, however it is sensible that Trump can be cautious about rejoining a platform he doesn’t management. Trump misplaced his megaphone after the rebel, and the previous president appears decided to not lose his voice if issues get violent once more.
Trump can also be making money hand-over-fist with Truth Social, the platform he based to make sure no person can silence him. Trump Media and Expertise Group, which owns Fact Social, misplaced about $300 million final quarter, based on the Associated Press.
Musk didn’t reply to questions emailed on Wednesday however the Trump marketing campaign launched a press release that asserted the previous president’s authority whereas making an attempt to connect him to Musk.
“President Trump would be the solely voice of what function a person performs in his presidency,” Brian Hughes, senior Advisor to the Trump marketing campaign, advised Gizmodo in an e mail.
“Nevertheless it has been broadly reported and is demonstrated in various methods, that most of the nation’s most essential leaders in know-how and innovation are involved with the harm achieved to their business by Biden’s failures to deal with our financial system and his strikes to overburden innovators with authorities forms and unrelenting regulation,” Hughes continued.
Musk has beforehand mentioned he was once a Democrat, claiming he voted for a Republican for the first time in 2022. However no matter Musk’s political historical past he appears to be all-in on Trumpism. And whereas Musk will not be personally donating cash to Trump’s marketing campaign, he’s working to get the person elected by lobbying highly effective folks to assist Trump retake the White Home.
Musk even teamed up with billionaire investor Nelson Peltz to work on some form of “data-driven” undertaking to battle in opposition to supposed election fraud. The difficulty is close to and pricey to Trump’s coronary heart for the reason that former president falsely claims he really received the 2020 election. Nevertheless, particulars surrounding the voting undertaking appear to be sparse.
From the Journal:
Musk and Peltz have advised acquaintances they’re engaged on a large data-driven undertaking to make sure votes are pretty counted, echoing Trump’s accusations of widespread fraud within the 2020 election. Trump’s personal lawyer normal, Invoice Barr, has rejected these claims in regards to the 2020 election. Trump’s marketing campaign and its allies misplaced dozens of lawsuits difficult the outcomes.
Musk and Peltz described the initiative to Trump within the March assembly, based on an individual aware of that dialogue. Extra particulars about the antifraud effort couldn’t be realized.
All we all know for sure is that Musk is absolutely on board the Trump prepare. And if Trump wins in November—which is a really distinct chance the best way the national polls look—Musk might have an essential function to play in steering the nation.
7:38 p.m. ET: Up to date with remark from the Trump marketing campaign.
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