Tesla CEO Elon Musk suggested he helped persuade Donald Trump to soften his opposition to electric vehicles, saying the former president calls him up.
Elon Musk may be influencing Donald Trump’s stance on electric vehicles during random phone calls between the Tesla CEO and former president.
Musk suggested as much during Tesla’s annual shareholder meeting on Thursday after investors voted to reinstate his multibillion-dollar pay package.
During a question-and-answer segment of the meeting, Musk was asked about the 2024 Republican presumptive nominee.
« Donald Trump has been a big critic of electric vehicles, but last week, he surprised us by saying he’s a big fan of Tesla and a big fan of you », the man said, garnering applause. « What did you tell him? »
Trump has long railed against electric vehicles, painting the vehicles as inefficient and harmful to American autoworkers. Trump previously vowed to undo President Joe Biden’s EV policies and warned of an economic « bloodbath » should the likely inevitable transition to electric vehicles continue.
