New Delhi:
Elon Musk Vs Donald Trump: The world’s richest man Elon Musk had openly supported former President Donald Trump in the recent US presidential election. Musk not only supported him, he held rallies in his support and also donated generously. Trump had said during the election itself that after victory, Elon Musk would be given a big responsibility. Now Donald Trump has won the election and will become the next President of America.
Trump joked about Elon Musk at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida last Thursday, saying, “I can’t get him out of here.” “I love having him here too. He’s done an amazing job, his mind is incredible.”
But will the relationship between the world’s richest man and the soon-to-be US President survive some major policy differences and their own likes and dislikes?
According to AFP, there could be six possible areas of dispute between the two:
who is the boss? ,
Elon Musk is known for his free-spirited work ethic and self-described “hardcore” style. They run their companies as personal fiefdoms in which their authority is rarely challenged.
From factory production lines to the boardroom, he is used to getting his work done with his aggressive style. Because of this, he fires people on the spot and sometimes even publicly insults their conscience.
Donald Trump is a business tycoon, fond of firing employees and humiliating people in public. They want complete loyalty and are reluctant to share the moments of success with anyone.
Former aides say he also likes to use his advisers and cabinet members against each other.
Elon Musk reportedly had his first public spat with Trump transition official Boris Epstein last week, and he openly endorsed billionaire Howard Lutnick for US Treasury secretary on Saturday, highlighting his influence, according to the Axios news site. Preliminary testing done.
Climate change
Musk invested in Tesla in 2004 partly without worrying about global warming. In 2017, he resigned from Trump’s trade advisory council to protest the then president’s decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate change agreement.
Musk wrote on Twitter at the time, “Climate change is real. Leaving Paris is not good for America or the world.”
Trump, who has called climate change a “hoax”, is widely expected to abandon US commitments again after President Joe Biden rejoins the Paris Agreement in 2020.
Musk has recently changed his views, telling Trump during a live conversation on .”
The UN’s IPCC, the world’s top climate science body, says average global temperatures are on track to reach 1.5C above pre-industrial times by the early 2030s. This is an important level with major consequences for the ecosystem.
change in energy
Musk has made a big bet on the change in energy level. His company Tesla has made a lot of profit from electric cars. The company has also developed home battery technology and solar-powered roofing tiles.
Trump has campaigned pledging to “drill, baby, drill” and is expected to approve new fossil fuel infrastructure and permits, even preserving federal lands for oil and gas companies. Will also prepare.
Musk has derided the “mine-and-burn hydrocarbon economy” while Trump has been openly supportive.
The newly elected President has nominated Kris Wright as his Energy Secretary. Chris Wright publicly rejected climate change and energy transition last year.
China
Trump’s aggressive stance on China and the threat of a trade war between the world’s two largest economies could become another big thorn in the relations between the billionaires.
China is a key market for Tesla, home to one of the company’s so-called “gigafactories” and where it competes with fast-growing domestic manufacturers.
Musk never says a single negative word about the ruling Communist Party. This will put Musk in front of China’s opponents like US Senator Marco Rubio. Rubio has been nominated by Trump to join his cabinet.
‘DOGE’ given free rein
Musk, who has ruthlessly cut costs at his own companies, has been tasked by Trump with leading the “Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)”, which will cut government spending.
However, plans to end the programs will almost certainly face serious political opposition, with even Republicans opposed.
As the midterm elections approach, whether it is medical aid for the poor or other government schemes, Trump’s political priorities may differ from Musk’s.
Big Tech
Musk’s complex relationships and personal rivalries with Silicon Valley’s biggest tech companies date back decades, and he is expected to face myriad conflicts of interest as part of the administration.
Will Musk, who runs his own AI company, remain silent if Trump promotes OpenAI? This has been a Microsoft-backed startup that Musk was instrumental in starting a decade ago.
Will Musk be able to tolerate it if Trump listens to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos? Will Musk be able to tolerate that a rival of SpaceX is about to gain access to the White House?
(This news has not been edited by NDTV team. It is published directly from the syndicate feed.)
