Elon MuskCEO of Tesla, could be influencing in the opinions of Donald Trump on electric vehicles, just as they read it. This revelation came during Tesla's annual shareholder meeting, where the tycoon suggested that hisus telephone conversations with the former president They have been able to change Trump's position.
At the meeting, following the approval of Musk's multibillion-dollar pay package, he was asked about Trump, the Republican nominee in 2024. One attendee noted that although Trump had been a vehement critic of electric vehicles, He recently expressed admiration for Tesla and Muskgenerating applause. “What did you say to him?” they asked.
Trump's position on electromobility
Historically, Trump has criticized electric vehicles, calling them inefficient and harmful for autoworkers in the United States. He had promised to undo Joe Biden's policies on electric vehicles and warned of an economic crisis if the transition to these vehicles continued.
However, at a rally in Arizona earlier this month, Trump surprised the public by declaring that he was a “big fan of electric cars”. “I'm an Elon fan,” Trump declared, according to a Tesla-related outlet. “I like Elon and I think a lot of people will want to buy an electric car.”
This change of heart could be influenced by the growing relationship between Trump and Musk. “I can be persuasive,” Musk admitted. “I’ve had a few conversations with him and he calls me out of the blue for no apparent reason. I don’t know why, but he does it.”
Musk described Trump's calls as “very nice” and said he has tried to convince the former president of the environmental and patriotic benefits of electric vehicles. “America is the leader in electric cars,” Musk said.
Additionally, Musk suggested that Trump's change in tone could be related to the influence of his Tesla-owning friends. “I think a lot of his friends now have Teslas,” Musk said. “Everyone loves it. And he is a big fan of the Cybertruck.”
In the last weeks, both men have publicly shown support for each other. Musk defended Trump following his conviction for 34 felonies, calling the matter “trivial.” On the other hand, Trump has considered offering Musk an advisory role in his administration if he wins the November election, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Additionally, the outlet reported that Musk and Trump shared a breakfast in March with their sons, X and Barron Trump, and billionaire Nelson Peltz, during which they criticized Biden.