Elon Musk and Joe Biden are not on good terms. Musk has publicly shown his support for Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential campaign, which has led Biden to criticize Musk directly. The President is now making Musk a focal point of his campaign, along with other wealthy Silicon Valley figures who are backing Trump.
Biden expressed his frustration with Musk and other wealthy individuals trying to influence the election by financially supporting Trump. This move marks a significant shift in Biden’s approach, as he had previously avoided acknowledging Musk’s existence, such as not inviting Tesla to an “EV Summit” or praising Detroit over Tesla in the electric vehicle space.
Despite the risks of campaigning against Musk, Biden seems to be taking a stand against the billionaire’s influence in Silicon Valley and the tech industry. Many prominent figures in the tech world, including partners at Sequoia Capital and well-known investors like Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, are supporting Trump’s campaign due to his policies on crypto and AI.
Biden’s decision to target Musk may be a strategic move to rally support and funding for his campaign. By highlighting Musk’s ties to Trump and his controversial views, Biden is attracting attention and financial contributions from his supporters. This approach has proven to be successful, with one of the campaign’s recent social media posts criticizing Musk becoming one of the best-performing posts in over a year.
While Musk has benefited from certain policies put in place during Biden’s presidency, such as the Inflation Reduction Act and government contracts for SpaceX, he has also faced scrutiny and investigations. Musk’s alignment with Trump’s ideologies and potential benefits to his companies under another Trump presidency are factors that have influenced Biden’s decision to target him in the campaign.
Overall, Biden’s focus on Musk and his wealthy supporters reflects the escalating tensions between political figures and influential tech leaders in the current presidential race. As the campaign progresses, it will be interesting to see how Musk responds to Biden’s criticisms and how this dynamic shapes the outcome of the election.