Elon Musk, the entrepreneur and business magnate behind Tesla, SpaceX, and X, has been a topic of political speculation in recent months due to his potential involvement with the Trump administration. According to various reports from reputable sources such as The Wall Street Journal and Business Insider, Musk has discussed taking on an advisory role if Trump returns to the White House.
Musk's businesses, including Tesla, SpaceX, and X (SolarCity), stand to gain or lose significantly depending on the election outcome. Under Trump's administration, tax cuts and deregulation could benefit Musk's companies. For instance, Trump previously pushed for a Space Force.
However, aligning too closely with Trump could lead to market instability and potential backlash from critics. Political strategist Bradley Tusk warns that Musk needs to be careful in his political maneuverings.
Musk's politics have been described as a 'politics of progress,' focusing on growth, technological progress, and maximizing human potential. His views put him at odds with both protectionist populism from the right and redistributionism from the left.
Despite his growing political influence, Musk has faced challenges in his businesses. Tesla has seen layoffs, recalls, and dipping sales as competitors catch up in the electric-vehicle market it helped create. The aging company has also faced technical issues with its long-anticipated Cybertruck and agreed to recall some 4,000 of them.
Musk wants shareholder support in tomorrow's vote to sway the judge and reinstate his 2018 pay package. However, some financial advisers and major shareholders, including the California Public Employees Retirement System and the Norwegian sovereign wealth fund, have signaled that they will vote against the compensation.
As Musk navigates these challenges in both his personal and professional life, it remains to be seen how his political ambitions will shape his future.
