The alliance between Trump and Musk has long been announced.
Elon Musk has long harbored a fondness for Donald Trump's populist views. The Tesla CEO supports his candidate not only financially but also in the media, for instance with an interview on his own social media platform. His engagement appears to be a coolly calculated investment strategy.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has clearly stated where he stands in the US election campaign. The Tesla CEO wants Donald Trump to win in November, and he's pulling out all the stops to make it happen. "I fully support President Trump and wish him a speedy recovery," Musk posted on "X" after the attempted assassination of the Republican. But that tweet was just the beginning of a stunning support campaign for Trump that Musk has launched, going far beyond financial backing. Today, the tech mogul will interview the presidential candidate on his own social media platform, X.
Musk has been sympathetic to Trump's ideas for a long time, but he has now openly allied himself with the right-wing populist. His engagement appears to be a coolly calculated investment strategy that could pay off for his economic interests if Trump becomes US president again.
The "Oldie" and the "Bullshit Artist" Make Up
The alliance between Trump and Musk has been long in the making: Even with the takeover of Twitter - for Musk, less an economic decision than a political heart project to preserve the freedom of speech of right-wing actors - it found much approval among Trump's supporters. Since Musk's takeover, his tweets have become increasingly Trump-friendly, stoking fears of illegal immigrants and sometimes pushing conspiracy theories about the great replacement. Trump had already met with Musk in March to ask him for money because he was in dire financial straits due to his ongoing legal proceedings. At the time, Musk was not yet willing to play the white knight with thick checks for him. Now, it seems, he has changed his mind.
Both men were actually long-time adversaries: Even in Trump's first administration, Musk sat on two advisory councils but resigned after Trump withdrew from the Paris climate agreement. When Musk wanted to take over Twitter in 2022 but then initially backed out, both insulted each other online. Trump called Musk a "bullshit artist" and taunted that Musk's companies were "worthless" without state subsidies, his rockets flew to "nowhere," and his cars didn't drive far enough. Musk retorted that Trump was too old for a second term and should "hang up his hat and ride off into the sunset" - the same accusation that Trump and his supporters made against Joe Biden in this election campaign.
In recent months, both seem to have patched up their relationship. In late May, the "Wall Street Journal" reported that Musk and Trump spoke to each other regularly, and Trump was now considering Musk again for an advisory role. Apparently, he is advising Trump on cryptocurrencies. Musk has denied all these reports - but with his massive support for Trump, he is now fueling speculation that he could rise to one of Trump's closest advisors in a second Trump administration. His denials are no longer credible: As recently as March, Musk boasted on X: "Just to be crystal clear: I am not donating money to any presidential candidate."
Despite his personal dislike, Musk's sudden shift to financially and publicly support Trump suggests he's not just acting on political conviction, but hedging his bets in case the political wind changes in the US. Since the attempted coup, Trump's re-election prospects have improved. Musk's donations are political capital he can cash in during a potential second Trump term, lining his own pockets.
Soon, Musk could become not only Trump's biggest backer but also his most favored. Musk has long felt that Tesla, SpaceX, or X's interests are overlooked by the Biden administration, hoping that would change under a new Trump administration.
The odds are in his favor. Trump is open to backroom deals between big corporations and politics, as seen in his offer to oil majors to scrap environmental regulations in exchange for $1 billion in campaign donations, as reported by the New York Times. Unabashed corruption in high government circles has never been an issue for Trump, as evidenced by foreign governments' stays at his hotels, billions from Saudi Arabia for his son-in-law Jared Kushner's investment fund, and secret payments from abroad for his inaugural committee.
Musk too seems open to such arrangements, having reportedly asked Trump for favors for his companies in the past. "When Elon Musk came to the White House and asked for help with his many subsidized projects [...] I could have said 'grovel and beg' and he would have done it," Trump wrote on Truth Social in 2022. In a rematch, Musk would seemingly have something to offer in exchange for the help he seeks.
Elon Musk's support for Donald Trump extends beyond financial contributions, as he plans to interview the presidential candidate on his social media platform. This strategic move suggests that Musk is keen to leverage any potential political shifts in favor of his economic interests if Trump wins again.
The alliance between Musk and Trump has a long history, with both men being adversaries at one point, but their relationship has appeared to improve in recent months, prompting speculation about Musk's potential role as one of Trump's closest advisors in a second term.
