Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla and SpaceX, is an enigmatic figure who has been vocal about a number of topics, including politics. Though he has not explicitly stated his opinion on Donald Trump, he has implied, in different contexts, that he does not support the President.
In one instance, Musk refused to comment when asked about Trump’s controversial travel ban, but instead said that all of his focus was on making Tesla, SpaceX and other companies more successful. This was seen by many as a move to avoid antagonizing the President and his supporters. Musk’s stance on the matter remains unclear.
On a personal level, Musk has had a few interactions with the President. He met with Trump in 2017 to discuss job creation and economic growth, and was also among the CEOs who attended the traditional White House State Dinner.
However, during these meetings and when talking to the press, Musk rarely speaks up in defence of President Trump’s policies or of the Trump administration in general. He even made several jokes and references critical of the President online.
Musk has also used his reputation and public platform to express his criticisms of Trump’s actions on numerous occasions. Most notably, he chastised the President for pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement and tweeted to his 24 million followers that ‘climate change is real’.
Musk has also expressed his dissatisfaction with Trump’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, referring to the President’s suggestion that Hydroxychloroquine could be used to treat the virus as ‘ raise[ing] considerable caution’.
In conclusion, it appears that Elon Musk is not a supporter of Donald Trump and has openly expressed his criticisms of the President’s decisions and policies.
Musk and the Economy
Tesla and SpaceX have long been seen as symbols of US economic strength, so it’s understandable that Elon Musk has been invited to the White House several times to discuss ways to create jobs and stimulate the economy.
At the 2017 White House meeting, the two discussed topics such as regulation rollback, automation in the auto industry, and energy policy. It was also reported that Trump was about to offer Musk a position in his cabinet, though that never came to pass.
It is uncertain what Elon Musk’s opinion of the Trump administration’s economic policy is, but he certainly hasn’t publicly endorsed any of the policies they have investigated or implemented. He has also been vocal about the need for taxpayer’s money to be used to stimulate the economy, especially during the pandemic.
In a series of tweets, Musk also criticised the Republican-led tax bill, which was signed into law in 2017. He argued that the bill would benefit only a few and would reinforce the biases of wealthy investors.
It seems that while Musk is respectful of the President and the office of the President when it comes to discussing economic policy, he has reservations about the direction the Trump administration has taken in certain areas.
Musk and China
Though Elon Musk has not explicitly stated his opinion on Donald Trump’s stance on China, he has made some subtle criticisms. For instance, in response to Trump’s claims that the Chinese government was ‘the source of our economic problems’, Musk wrote: ‘China is not the source of our economic problems’.
Additionally, Musk has gone on record about the importance of maintaining positive and open relationships with the Chinese government. He recently said in an interview that removing barriers between the two countries, rather than attempting to build walls, is the way forward.
Moreover, Musk’s companies have long been reliant on swift and effective cooperation with the Chinese government in order to meet the demands of the Chinese market. For instance, Tesla has an ambitious goal of delivering 500,000 cars to China in the next few years, a goal it could not meet without strong ties to the Chinese market.
It appears that while Elon Musk is not openly critical of the President’s actions towards China, he is not entirely supportive either. He appears to believe that in today’s complex global economic situation, dialogue and cooperation are key for businesses to succeed, particularly for his companies.
Musk and Immigration
One of the key issues that the Trump administration has become known for is its hard-line stance on immigration. Elon Musk has spoken out against this tactic and suggested more progressive solutions instead.
At a meeting with President Trump in 2017, he raised the prospect of creating an immigration policy that ‘incentivizes’ top talent to move to the US rather than offshore. He also said that labor-intensive jobs should be filled with high-skilled immigrant workers.
Musk clearly believes in the importance of immigrants in the US economy, and has repeatedly spoken out against the anti-immigration policies advocated by the Trump administration. He has said that rather than trying to close America’s borders, the US should take steps to open them and make the US a place where all the world’s best and brightest are welcome.
Musk’s tactics diverge starkly from Trump’s, and this has been echoed in his public stances as well. He has strongly criticised the travel ban and made several jokes about it on social media, suggesting that he is, at least in part, opposed to the hard-line immigration policies advocated by the President.
Musk and Trade
While not speaking out often about the President’s attempts at trade policy, Elon Musk has shown himself to be both cautious and critical of Trump’s attempts to implement protective tariffs on different products.
In an interview in 2017, Musk said that while he thought free trade was a good thing, he was unsure of the long-term effects of tariffs and a protectionist trade policy. He suggested that in order to protect US jobs, it is best to focus on technology and innovation. He also argued that tariffs were only a short-term solution to the problems of US businesses and would not produce lasting benefits.
By contrasting himself with Trump in his approach to trade policy, Musk has made it clear that while he values free and open trade, he is not an advocate of the President’s protectionist policies.
Musk and Social Media
Elon Musk is an avid user of Twitter, often using the platform to express his opinions on different topics, including his views on President Trump. He has been known to make jokes critical of the President’s immigration policies and has been open about his disagreement with the President on other matters such as climate change and the economy.
Though he seems to be largely opposed to Trump’s policies and statements, he has also been careful not to be too antagonistic, perhaps in order to preserve his relationship with the President.
In general, Musk appears to be averse to publicly criticising the President and does not initiate such conversations on the topic. However, he is willing to respond to questions about Donald Trump in a measured and thoughtful way, being sure to express his opinion without being too blunt or antagonistic.
