Biden’s remark that infuriated Elon Musk, made him turn his back on Democrats and boost support for Trump
WASHINGTON, DC: President Joe Biden's comment praising a rival of Elon Musk for electrifying the entire automobile industry in the US infuriated the tech giant, prompting him to shift his support away from the Democrats.
In 2021, the President hailed General Motors CEO Mary Barra, giving the cold shoulder to the Tesla CEO, who is known for expanding the electric vehicles market in the US.
Biden's praise did come at a cost. Musk, who voted for the octogenarian in 2020, diverted his support to the Republicans despite never casting a ballot for them in his life. The President indirectly helped his predecessor, Donald Trump, gain a major power broker.
What did Joe Biden say about Mary Barra?
In 2021, Joe Biden joined Mary Barra for multiple events celebrating his infrastructure law and an executive order aimed at turning half of the new cars and trucks sold in the US into electric and zero-emission vehicles by 2030.
Musk was not an invitee when Biden showered praise on Barra's General Motors, which produced only 26 EVs, much less than Tesla's 115,000 in 2021's fourth quarter. Biden gave credit to Barra for "electrifying the entire automobile industry", as per Daily Mail.
"You electrified the entire automobile industry. I'm serious. You led — and it matters — in drastically improving the climate by reducing hundreds of millions of barrels of oil that will not be used when we're all electric," he said at the event.
He also claimed Detroit was "leading the world in electric vehicles", with no mention of Austin, the home of Tesla.
Joe Biden's alliance with United Auto Workers outraged Elon Musk
Joe Biden's tag as pro-union president further distanced him from Elon Musk due to Tesla's anti-union methods.
"We made it clear to the administration about where things were," a former United Auto Workers official said, indicating the pressure the President had from the union. "We didn't have to make an ultimatum. They understood."
Biden's rejection led the SpaceX CEO to reflect his outrage not only on the administration but also on the Democratic Party as a whole. He often made mocking remarks against Democratic Socialist Senator Bernie Sanders and Sen Elizabeth Warren, who frequently urged the taxation of the wealthy and the regulation of Big Tech.
According to Bradley Tusk, former Michael Bloomberg campaign manager, "When Democratic lawmakers endlessly attack someone, the answer becomes 'screw you.' He's human, and when people are using you for political fodder, of course, you will react in a certain way."
Finally, Musk stopped voicing his ire at the lawmakers and explicitly declared his disapproval of Biden in 2022 when he ignored Tesla and applauded GM and Ford's EVs.
"Biden is a damp [sock emoji] puppet in human form," the billionaire wrote on X (formerly Twitter) in January 2022.
Joe Biden's cold shoulder prompted Elon Musk to shift to Donald Trump's camp
The Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice's investigation into X and Tesla were the last nails in the coffin of the Musk-Biden alliance.
Everything culminated in Musk eventually shifting his allegiance to Republicans at Capitol Hill despite his prominent wealth growth under the Biden administration. He held frequent discussions with House Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep Jim Jordan, both staunch Trump allies.
As a last straw in the failed relationship with Democrats, Musk announced in 2022 that he would launch a Super Moderate Super PAC to fund centrist candidates. However, he revealed that he would start "lower level" donations this month for the pro-Trump America PAC.
Earlier, reports suggested he would be donating $45 million a month to the former president's campaign, but Musk denied the speculations. "What's been reported in the media is simply not true. I am not donating $45 million a month to Trump," Musk said last week and called the $45 million donation "ridiculous" on X.
Nevertheless, Trump signaled his newfound friendship with the tech mogul in a recent campaign rally in Michigan, stating, "I love Elon Musk. We have to make life good for our smart people, and he's as smart as you get."
In a recent conversation with Jordan Peterson, the Tesla CEO substantiated his support for the GOP, asserting the party's core value was "meritocracy".
Moreover, he voiced support for Trump after the assassination attempt, saying the ex-president showed "great courage" after the incident. Similarly, he defended GOP vice presidential nominee JD Vance, who found himself in hot water because of his "childless cat ladies" remark against Vice President Kamala Harris.
Responding to Harris' resurfaced clip where she discussed "climate anxiety" among young people, Musk wrote on X, "Shamala is an extinctionist."
This indicates Harris, the new Democratic presumptive nominee, would be his new prey after Biden exited the 2024 race.
