In the months leading up to the election, Elon Musk put his full weight behind the Maga movement, backed Trump on podcasts and used his influence over X to shape political discourse. Musk's America political action committee (Pac) injected nearly $120m (£92m) into the campaign.
Now Trump is in a position to return the favour. Speaking to reporters last month, he said he would appoint Musk as "secretary of cost-cutting". Musk, for his part, has joked he would be interested in serving as head of the "Department of Government Efficiency" (Doge) with a stated goal of reducing government spending by $2tn.
Practically speaking, experts say those cost cuts could result in deregulation and policy changes that would directly impact Musk's universe of companies, particularly Tesla, SpaceX, X and Neuralink.
"We've seen lobbying efforts, we've seen Super Pacs, but this is a different level we've never seen before," said Gita Johar, a professor at Columbia Business School. "There will be some quid pro quo where he [Musk] will benefit." She added: "'Conflict of interest' seems rather quaint."
Tesla
Tesla is already reaping the benefits of a second Trump administration. On Wednesday, hours after the Associated Press called the presidential race for Trump, the electric vehicle company's stock shot up 13% to a 52-week high. By the end of the week, Tesla reached $1tn in market capitalisation, its highest valuation in two years. Musk's own fortune shot up $26bn.
この記事は The Guardian の November 11, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は The Guardian の November 11, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Debt, IT woes and no chief executive What returning Asda boss has in store
Allan Leighton faces a back-to-thefuture challenge as he once again takes charge at struggling Asda.
Sweeney's RFU salary rises to £1.1m amid job cuts and losses
The Rugby Football Union chief executive, Bill Sweeney, was paid £1.1m for the 2023-24 financial year despite record losses and swingeing job cuts at the governing body.
'Probably more out than in' Salah leans towards exit with Liverpool yet to offer new deal
Mohamed Salah says he is disappointed Liverpool have not offered him a new contract and feels \"probably more out than in\" in terms of staying beyond the end of the season.
Reds' contract dance with Salah was always likely to be complex
Revamp after Jürgen Klopp's exit did not help and time is short for Liverpool to make their talisman feel wanted
Guardiola insists ageing squad is not behind City's alarming drop in form
Pep Guardiola has denied that a key factor in Manchester City's run of five consecutive defeats is that nine of his squad are aged 30 or older, with the manager pointing to how the same players were Premier League champions last season.
Wan-Bissaka seals West Ham win to take heat off Lopetegui
On a bitterly cold Tyneside night, West Ham finally remembered how to fight back.
Arteta seeks ruthless edge to fix away-day woes in Europe
Mikel Arteta has challenged his Arsenal team to fix their patchy European away form against a vibrant Sporting tonight, admitting they need to improve a record of one win in their past eight continental trips.
I've got my mojo back ... I actually felt unwell at the end at Chelsea'
After recharging her batteries in the US, Emma Hayes reflects on the grind of club coaching and fresh ambitions
Spurs blow as Vicario faces long spell out after surgery
Guglielmo Vicario has had surgery to repair an ankle fracture sustained in Tottenham's 4-0 Premier League win at Manchester City on Saturday.
Verstappen in 'that club' with Senna and Hamilton
Red Bull chief Horner claims his driver's fourth, and most challenging, world title puts him in same class as the greats