Billionaire Elon Musk was around Donald Trump plenty during the election season and followed the president into the White House after he was elected. But just months later, the two men seem to be at an impasse, and it is unclear where their relationship goes from here.
Musk Took His Time Getting Into Politics
Musk, who grew in fame and wealth thanks to his involvement with PayPal and Twitter, mostly stayed out of politics early in his career. It was known, though, that he voted for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 and for Hillary Clinton in 2016.
Musk Did Donate to George W. Bush in 2004
One might think that they could have seen a hint toward the South African’s future political leanings when he donated to Republican George W. Bush. But Musk also played both sides during this election, as he donated the exact same amount to Democrat John Kerry.
Business Interests Did Drive His Political Views
While Musk voted for Democratic candidates, he also supported some Republicans with donations. He said at the time that he attempts to stay out of politics for the most part, but that his business interests necessitate that he stay involved.
Musk Did Not Care For Donald Trump
It might come as a surprise to hear this today, but Elon Musk once spoke out strongly against Donald Trump. The comments came when Trump was seeking the Republican nomination in 2016. Musk said that if Trump were to get the nomination, it would be a bit embarrassing.
The Businessman Was Also Critical of Trump Early On
After Trump was elected, he continued to face criticism from Musk as the businessman slammed the president’s decision to leave the Paris Climate Accords. This was a sensible take from Musk as the CEO of Tesla.
Musk Did Join Donald Trump’s Business Council
Following Trump’s election to the White House, he created a business council and invited prominent moguls to join. Musk did join up with the council but said that he only did so, so that he could complain to Trump about the president’s Muslim ban.
Trump May Have Earned Musk’s Friendship at a SpaceX Launch in 2020
Following his concerns in the early days of Trump’s presidency, Musk would remain relatively quiet throughout the next couple of years. Trump and Musk did meet up at a SpaceX launch, and Musk began to develop a friendship.
Musk Became More Vocal During Biden’s Presidency
After supporting Andrew Yang and Kanye West’s 2020 presidential runs, Musk continued to move to the right politically. He was a frequent critic of Joe Biden, and he opposed Biden’s proposals to rebuild after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Musk Gives $50 Million, Openly Supports Republicans
In 2022, Musk gave $50 million to a Republican Super PAC called Citizens for Sanity. The businessman declared that he would be backing Conservative candidates from then on. Still, the Tesla CEO shied away from backing Donald Trump.
Musk Backs a Republican Not Named Trump
While Musk had begun a swift rightward turn, he was not yet ready to support Donald Trump. The CEO first endorsed Ron DeSantis, who was expected to be a strong challenger in the 2024 nomination race.
He Also Urges Trump to Stay Out of the Race
The South African felt that Trump was too damaged from his legal issues and the 2020 insurrection to run for office again in 2024. In addition to backing DeSantis, Musk also urged Trump to exit the race, although he did so in a gentle manner.
The Billionaire Purchases Twitter, Attacks Biden
Musk made a power move to buy the website Twitter, renaming the site X. The site quickly hemorrhaged both users and credibility as the CEO used the site to attack Biden and promote Republican causes.
Musk Attacks Administration Over Trump’s Felony Convictions
The businessman was still backing other candidates while Trump faced a felony trial in New York, where he was eventually convicted on 34 counts. Musk argued that the trial was unfair and former presidents shouldn’t be bothered by what he called trivial matters.
The Businessman Formally Backs Trump After Assassination Attempt
During the summer of 2024, a gunman attempted to shoot Trump while he gave a speech in Pennsylvania. After this moment, Musk threw his full support behind Trump, using his platform to promote the candidate.
Musk Aggressively Joins the Campaign Trail
Shortly after Musk became a Trump backer, he joined him on the campaign trail. Until the end of the election, Musk was frequently seen at the Republicans’ rallies, helping to draw attention and additional supporters.
The CEO Gives Away Money in Swing States
Shortly after joining Trump on the trail, Musk began to give away money in swing states in a controversial lottery. Democrats argued that the giveaway was a clear attempt to buy votes, but the actions held up in a court of law.
Musk Becomes the Controversial Face of DOGE
Trump wanted to reward Musk for his patronage during the election season, but he didn’t give him a seat in the cabinet. Instead, Trump made him the head of DOGE, or the Department of Government Efficiency. Musk rapidly fired thousands of federal employees, though Trump’s current proposed tax cuts would do away with much of that work.
The Businessman Breaks With Trump Over Tariffs
After being around Trump for so much of the last 6 months, Musk and pretty much the entire business community broke with Trump in regard to his tariff plan. The South African departed the White House in May, saying that he wanted to concentrate on running Tesla and X.
Conclusion
It always seemed that Musk was willing to back Trump as long as it made sense for him and his pocketbook. But his entry into politics has only hurt Musk, as X (formerly Twitter) and Tesla have seen their fortunes wilt.
The Musk and Trump relationship was a symbiotic one where Musk got a certain degree of power, and Trump had a powerful businessman come to his aid during the campaign season. The two can get back on strong terms again, but it may not happen soon.
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