Elon Musk and Donald Trump, two prominent figures with seemingly contrasting views on environmental issues and politics, have recently found themselves in a surprising alliance. Musk, known for advocating cutting greenhouse emissions and promoting electric vehicles, has publicly endorsed Trump's presidential reelection bid and is reportedly planning to commit $45 million a month to a super PAC supporting the former president.
Despite Musk's past donations to candidates from both parties, his significant financial support for Trump marks a shift in his political affiliations. Musk has expressed dissatisfaction with the Democratic party's direction, leading him to back the Republican candidate.
The super PAC, named America PAC, aims to support voter registration efforts and encourage early voting in swing states. Musk's immense influence, with millions of followers on his platform X, positions him as one of the world's most-followed influencers.
At a recent Tesla annual meeting, shareholders displayed unwavering support for Musk, voting in favor of reinstating a lucrative pay package for him. Despite past disagreements with Trump over climate policies, Musk has demonstrated a willingness to engage with the former president and promote electric cars as a beneficial choice for America's future.
Musk's relationship with Trump has seen fluctuations, with Musk previously resigning from White House business councils following Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accord. However, in recent years, Musk has shown support for Trump and criticized President Joe Biden's policies.
Following his acquisition of the social media platform Twitter, Musk reinstated Trump's account and voiced concerns about censorship under the platform's previous ownership. While Tesla has benefited from EV subsidies passed under the Biden Administration, Musk has called for the removal of such subsidies to level the playing field for all automakers.
Despite Musk's criticisms of government subsidies for certain industries, it is worth noting that Tesla and SpaceX, two companies central to Musk's wealth, have also received government support for their operations.
