key Takeaways:
- Donald Trump expressed disagreement with Elon Musk regarding electric vehicles and criticized the Biden administration’s mandate on EVs.
- Trump referred to the individuals behind the EV mandate as “very stupid people.”
- Trump confirmed having met with Musk but indicated uncertainty about receiving Musk’s support.
- The specifics of Trump and Musk’s discussions and their alignment on electric vehicle-related issues remain undisclosed.
Donald Trump may be seeking Elon Musk’s support for his potential campaign, but it’s unlikely that the former president will alter his stance on electric vehicles (EVs) anytime soon.
In an interview on CNBC’s SquawkBox on Monday, Donald Trump confirmed that he recently met with Tesla CEO Elon Musk but expressed uncertainty about whether he would eventually receive Musk’s endorsement. Despite his personal admiration for Musk, Trump acknowledged that they are not aligned on the subject of electric cars, which he referred to as a “minor subject.”
Trump criticized electric cars, stating that they have limited range, high costs, and are predominantly manufactured in China. He expressed skepticism about the feasibility of an all-electric future in the short term, citing concerns about the state of the US electric grid, which he described as obsolete and inadequate.
While Trump expressed support for electric vehicle production, he emphasized the need for diverse energy alternatives. He criticized President Biden’s mandate to accelerate electric vehicle adoption, labeling it as the product of “very, very stupid people.” Trump’s remarks likely alluded to Biden’s goal of increasing EV production to 60% of new vehicles by 2030, a target that has reportedly faced challenges due to sluggish EV sales.
The Biden administration has allocated significant investments toward strengthening the power grid and expanding the availability of charging networks to support electric vehicles.
Donald Trump stirred controversy on Christmas with a post on Truth Social, where he denounced supporters of “Electric Car Lunacy” and labeled them as “THUGS” who can “ROT IN HELL.” This outburst was part of his broader frustration over criminal charges he faces.
Trump recently met with Elon Musk in Palm Beach, Florida, as part of his efforts to bolster donations to his presidential campaign. However, Musk later announced that he would not be donating money to either presidential candidate, a decision that some observers remain skeptical about.
During the Trump administration, Musk served on two presidential advisory councils but parted ways after Trump decided to withdraw the US from the Paris Climate Accords. Musk has previously suggested that Trump’s ties to the oil and gas industry limited his support for EV manufacturers like Tesla. Despite claims that he voted for Biden in 2020, reports indicate that Musk actually abstained from voting. In 2022, Musk stated his intention to vote Republican in a forthcoming election but remained undecided on whether he would support Trump.
Trump has not hesitated to criticize Musk in the past, accusing him of seeking assistance for his projects, including electric cars and driverless cars, during meetings at the White House.
Trump also addressed the recent endorsement of President Biden’s campaign by the United Auto Workers, dismissing union leaders as “blind sheep.” However, he remained confident that autoworkers would ultimately support him.