Elon Musk Fights Big Oil and Washington
Musk to Reveal Trump's Scandalous Information and Seek Political Sanctuary in Russia, or Possibly Clash with U.S. President
Take a look at that! Elon Musk showed some love for Russian politician Dmitry Medvedev, who quipped that Russia would help Tesla in its battle against the Trump administration. Is it possible that Musk might seek refuge in the land of the bears if the White House sends the boys in blue after him? After all, Snowden's been chillin' comfortable-like in Lyubertsy.
Now, let's dive into why Trump's "huge" legislative package has got Musk all fired up – so much so that the tech titan seems to have forgotten his anger management 101: breathe, count to ten, express constructively.
Tesla's electrical wonders have been going up in flames worldwide ever since Musk hooked up with the government. The stocks dropped a third since the start of the year.
In the meantime, Trump's given Musk a low blow. The infamous "big and beautiful" bill made its way through the House of Representatives on May 22, squeaking by just a single vote.
Here’s the CliffsNotes version: spend more on weapons and border control, and save by eliminating tax breaks for eco-friendly industries.
As of now, Americans can snag a discount of up to $7,500 when buying an electric whip – Trump wants to do away with that.
Trump's got his eyes on electric car owners.
Politics and the Electric Vehicle Industry
Trump's administration has pitched several proposals that could shake up the electric vehicle market. The proposals, among other things, include:
- Revoking California’s EV Mandates: The Senate voted to take away California's authority to set its own EV mandates, which could slow down the adoption of electric vehicles across the States[1][2][4]. California's strict emissions standards, slated to boot out all new diesel and gas vehicles by 2035, are under attack. Thirteen other states follow similar regulations[1][4].
- Yearly EV Fee: A proposed $250 annual federal levy on electric vehicle owners aims to fund the Highway Trust Fund, traditionally supported by gas taxes[3]. This extra charge could potentially put a damper on consumers opting for electric vehicles, affecting companies like Tesla, which thrives on a growing demand for EVs.
Elon's Response
While specific comments from Musk on these proposals weren't found, Tesla has long advocated for policies that support the transition to electric vehicles. With these proposals shaking up the industry, it's reasonable to assume that Tesla and Musk would view them as setbacks. Historically, Musk has spoken out against policies that hinder the growth of electric vehicles and is likely to voice his concerns publicly.[3]
Given the tumultuous tango between Musk, Trump, and Washington, it'll be intriguing to watch events unfold as the proposals make their way through the Senates and beyond. For now, Musk's taking the Trump-esque route: be rude, threaten, then negotiate.
Both men have proven ruthless in business – imagine a NYC real estate tycoon with teeth bigger than a megalodon (19 cm). If Musk didn't feel Tesla's product was up to snuff, he'd grab the nearest engineer and give them the ax on the spot.[4]
Before all this electric vehicle drama, though, Tesla wasn't dreamt up by Musk but by Martin Eberhard and a few others. Musk just poured cash into the company and later booted Eberhard up the river.[4]
Pundits reckon a full-blown confrontation between these alpha males is unlikely. After stepping back on his plan to scrap SpaceX from space programs, Musk's been relatively quiet recently, and dad Errol gave Musk a word of wisdom: yield, son – the president will win anyway.[5]
But we have a feeling Musk might still stir up some more trouble. He's got a shitload of dirt on Trump and deep pockets – just the ammo for starting a new party, if he's feeling adventurous.
Who knew this guy would be launching super-rockets? But he is![6]
P.S. The megalodon we mentioned? A prehistoric giant shark that went extinct millions of years back due to... yep, you guessed it – climate change, competition from other predators, and food scarcity.
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- Elon Musk's battle against the Trump administration in regards to electric vehicle policies extends into the realm of politics and policy-and-legislation, as the administration's proposals could significantly impact the electric vehicle industry.
- One such proposal is the revoking of California's EV mandates, which could slow down the adoption of electric vehicles across the states, affecting businesses like Tesla.
- Another proposal is a $250 annual federal levy on electric vehicle owners, aimed at funding the Highway Trust Fund, which could deter consumers from opting for electric vehicles.
- Tesla and Elon Musk, in response to these proposals, may view them as setbacks and speak out publicly against them, given Musk's history of advocating for policies that support the growth of electric vehicles.
- Despite this potential confrontation, it's speculated that a full-blown conflict between Musk and Trump might be unlikely, as Musk has recently been more cautious in his public comments and has deep pockets, potentially providing him with leverage in negotiations.
