“I Have to Because Elon Musk Endorsed Me”: Trump’s Shift on Electric Vehicles Amid Investigation
PHOTOS: AFP, REUTERS
A billionaire whose pro-Donald Trump super PAC is under criminal investigation seemingly bought into the Republican nominee’s rhetoric on a key campaign talking point, according to a recent admission from Trump reported Monday.
Trump’s comments about Tesla CEO Elon Musk came as Michigan’s secretary of state announced an investigation into potential data collection violations involving a PAC linked to the billionaire.
According to a report by Fortune, Trump has dramatically changed his stance on electric vehicles, calling the switch a “quid pro quo” to secure Musk’s support. “I am for electric cars,” Trump told supporters in Atlanta over the weekend. “I have to because Elon Musk endorsed me very strongly, Elon. So, I have no choice.”
This statement is a stark departure from Trump’s previous criticisms, where he ranted against electric vehicles, often mixing his grievances with unrelated topics like boats and sharks and confusing batteries with solar power.
Trump’s remarks during the Georgia rally marked a significant rhetorical shift that Fortune found noteworthy. “Trump admitted to tempering his strident opposition to electric vehicles in order to gain the endorsement of billionaire Elon Musk,” wrote Christiaan Hetzner, highlighting Trump’s transactional approach to politics.
What Trump meant by Musk endorsing him “very strongly” remains unclear. Both Trump and Musk have denied a Wall Street Journal report suggesting Musk would contribute $45 million a month to Trump’s campaign.
Questions also surround America PAC, which Musk, the world’s richest man with a reported worth of about $250 billion, launched on Trump’s behalf earlier this year. The PAC is currently facing allegations of violating election regulations by collecting Americans’ personal information with unfulfilled promises to help them register to vote.
Mary Massaron, a partner at law firm Plunkett Cooney, told CNBC that it remains uncertain whether the PAC violated state laws but described its tactics as “very troubling.” As the investigation unfolds, the implications of Trump’s shift in stance and the actions of Musk’s PAC continue to generate significant scrutiny.
