Background Information
Elon Musk is arguably the world’s greatest entrepreneur; the man behind Tesla, SpaceX, and the Boring Company. With a net worth of nearly $60 billion and a genius for making the impossible possible, it is no surprise that Musk has supporters in seemingly every corner of the world. The question at hand is whether Elon Musk backs Donald Trump and his policies. The answer requires an examination of Musk’s various public stances on the US president.
Pseudonym Postings
Some of Musk’s enthusiasts allege that an anonymous Twitter account with the handle of “Mountage” is actually controlled by the billionaire. The account has since been made private and consequently any posts or comments have been erased. Before it was taken offline, Mountage was an advocate of Trump. Mountage frequently posted pro-Republican and pro-Trump messages, though more often than not the post contained a humorous take on the current goings on in Washington.
Nevertheless, there were a few occasions in which it seemed that Musk himself was behind the account, most notably in its tweets regarding his electric car company, Tesla and its White House meetings. However, Musk continued to deny any connection with the account and it eventually petered out, leaving the question of whether the tech billionaire was ever really behind the posts an open one.
Public Statements & Reactions
Musk’s well-known disdain for traditional politics has been made clear from the get go. In a 2016 presidential debate, Musk called out both Trump and Clinton after one of the candidates used the electric car company as a punch line in a joke. When seated near Trump on a December 2016 economic advisory committee, Musk continued to maintain a skeptical attitude. This was made even more evident when Musk played the role of the ethical Jiminy Cricket like character in the coming together of Silicon Valley titans – including himself, Trump and his cabinet – at Trump Tower.
Though Musk has not publicly endorsed Trump or his policies, his playful acceptance of invitations to political events, such as The White House administrations in 2017, marks a certain level of cooperation. He was careful to not get too close to the president, as evidenced by a tweet in which Musk states he would not be afraid to walk away if he does not believe that the president will stick to his policies.
Collaborations with White House Administration
At a time when many of Silicon Valley’s finest kept their distance from Trump and acknowledged the numerous disruptive changes brought to the table, Musk was open to dialogue with the president and advised him on areas such as the formation of his council on manufacturing jobs and technology. Additionally, SpaceX CEO Musk has been commended for his collaborations with the White House Administration and its goals for space exploration. Musk has participated in NASA strategic planning yearly, and could be instrumental in helping the space agency’s plans for a mission to Mars come to fruition.
In 2017, Musk also attended a White House signing ceremony for the NASA Transition Authorization Act, a bill that allocated funding for the space agency to explore Mars, the outer solar system, and more. The bill was supported by both Republicans and Democrats and was signed into action by President Trump himself. It is this type of collaboration that has earned Musk admiration from the White House.
Political Affiliation & Donations
When it comes to his political affiliation, Elon Musk is definitely someone who has been harder to define. Musk identifies as fiscally conservative and socially liberal, a combination which isolates him within both Democratic and Republican crowds. This, however, is not necessarily a bad thing. It allows Musk to move between political circles with ease and gives him a greater influence over US politics. Thus, it comes as no surprise that the billionaire entrepreneur has remained largely silent on the issue of whether he supports Trump or his policies.
What’s more, Musk’s donations have gone mainly to both Democrat and Republican candidates, suggesting that he’s staying true to his centre-right position. Unlike many large business owners, such as Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg who use their wealth to further the prosperity of the Democratic Party, Musk doesn’t seem to be taking a side on the Left-Right political debate.
Perspectives from the Experts
Experts are divided on the matter of whether or not Elon Musk supports Donald Trump. Some think he sympathizes with Trump’s ambitions for rapid progress, such as Craig Willinger of the RNC. He said: “The goal of any entrepreneur is growth, and Trump has promised a lot of that, so it’s no surprise to see Musk taking an interest in his policies.”
Others, like Richard Branson, have taken the opposite stance, explaining that when it comes to politics, we should always strive to put people before profit. He said: “I think it’s better not to associate with any political party or leader, as every politician is bound to disappoint.”
Analysis & Insights
It seems clear to us that Elon Musk is not taking a political stance on Trump, however much it seems that he is being drawn into the debates. We believe that the reason Musk has kept so neutral on the issue is because he understands the power of staying on the right side of both Democrats and Republicans.
Moreover, Musk has a lot of different projects on the go and it would be quite counter-productive if he backs one party or the other, as they may disagree with him on several different issues. That said, it appears as though his political neutrality has not affected his relationship with Trump. Both sides appear to be cooperating with each other so far with, both sides having much to gain from this collaboration.
Trade Policies
The ever-increasing tension between the US and China is something that affects businessmen such as Elon Musk and the global economy. Both countries have imposed tariffs on the other, and this has had a ripple effect worldwide. While Trump has castigated China for decades-old trade policies, Musk on the other hand is more level-headed about the situation.
Musk has publicly acknowledged that tariffs won’t solve the problem, urging for dialogue instead. He has suggested that it is more important to set up a “constructive” conversation, especially between the private sectors as well as the governments of the two countries. Moreover, Musk has also criticized Trump’s tariffs in the past, noting that they make the cost of importing goods much more expensive and hurt US markets in the long run.
Labour Policies
Labour policies are something else that has had Elon Musk and Donald Trump clash. Trump has often been accused of advocating lax labour regulations, something that Musk disagrees with and has strongly commented on in the past. Tesla in particular has been scrutinised for its use of automated robots in factories and its reliance on non-unionized workers.
In response to this, Musk has reiterated his commitment to maintaining safety standards and making sure that the working conditions of his employees are taken care of. Moreover, he has also suggested that unionizing should be voluntary in order to prevent mandatory union dues from forcing workers out of their jobs.
Healthcare Policies
Elon Musk and Donald Trump have clashed on healthcare policies as well. Trump has been vocal about his wish to repeal the Affordable Care Act, something which would cause a massive disruption to many citizens. Musk does not agree with Trump’s moves here either and this stance was made clear when he tweeted his disapproval of Trump’s call for changes on healthcare.
Musk also reiterated that Tesla will continue to provide healthcare to its employees regardless of what the government’s regulations say. This can be regarded as a positive move as it demonstrates Musk’s commitment to his workforce and his beliefs in providing access to adequate healthcare. Furthermore, Musk also called for other companies to follow in his footsteps and provide healthcare to the people who need it most.
Immigration Policies
Finally, Elon Musk and Donald Trump have been at odds over immigration policies. Trump has been vocal about his plans to reduce the number of immigrants coming to the US and has put into place several policies which limit access to US borders. However, this is something that Musk does not agree with and he has been publicly vocal about his stance on the matter.
In 2017, Musk suggested that his company SpaceX would not use Trump’s proposed immigration restrictions for any of their workers moving to the US. Moreover, Tesla also released a statement in 2018 saying that they do not support the Trump administration’s decision to bar certain immigrants from entering the country. Ultimately, it appears as though Musk supports comprehensive immigration reform and he has certainly not backed Trump on this issue.
