Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, has formed an unlikely alliance with President-elect Donald Trump, sparking debate over its impact on both their businesses and politics.
A recent poll by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that roughly half of Americans view Musk favorably, similar to Trump. However, this overlap in public opinion has created concerns among some experts that it could alienate customers who are not fans of Trump.
Musk’s six businesses, including Tesla and SpaceX, stand to gain from his relationship with Trump. The billionaire has overseen a significant expansion of Tesla’s operations and is working closely with the incoming administration on initiatives such as reducing the size of the federal government.
Analysts believe that Musk’s ties to Trump could “revolutionize” Tesla’s story, especially in areas like robotics, AI, and autonomous vehicles. Some investors are betting on Musk’s political ascent, seeing it as a “champagne moment” for their investments.
However, not everyone is optimistic about the relationship between Musk and Trump. Ross Gerber, CEO of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management, expressed skepticism about the benefits of the alliance, citing concerns over Trump’s plans to end subsidies for alternative energy and electric vehicles.
Musk’s other companies, including his artificial intelligence company xAI, could also reap the benefits of working within the Trump administration. However, some experts warn that Musk’s reliance on subsidies and favorable government decisions has created a unique relationship between him and the state.
The debate over Musk’s ties to Trump highlights the complexities of the billionaire’s business empire and its impact on American politics.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/trump-elon-apnorc-poll-favorability-8506a4eed5ac5dcfe818a277e4adf42a