“The future is gonna be fantastic,” America’s unlikely kingmaker posted on X, above {a photograph} of his Starship rocket blasting into house.
It was, in spite of everything, Elon Musk who strapped boosters to Donald Trump’s marketing campaign and helped propel him to a decisive victory.
The world’s richest man bombarded his 200m+ followers on the platform he controls with pro-Trump content material, some true, a lot false.
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There’s additionally proof that, since Mr Musk endorsed the president-elect, X algorithms amplified pro-Trump content material.
“I don’t think this race would even be close if it wasn’t for what Elon Musk was doing with X and showing people what is going on,” stated Mr Trump’s eldest son – Donald Trump Jr – in a polling day podcast.
Throw in Mr Musk’s tens of tens of millions in marketing campaign donations to Mr Trump, million-dollar giveaways to voters, appearances at his rallies and podcasts supporting him, and we’ve ourselves a winner.
US election newest – world congratulates Trump
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15:08
Elon Musk’s political journey
However what’s in it for Elon Musk?
First is the function promised to him by Mr Trump as head of a brand new Division Of Authorities Effectivity.
This is able to give the billionaire the ability to scythe by means of US federal paperwork that each he and Mr Trump say has lengthy held America again.
Mr Musk actually feels it holds him again. Environmental and security laws have, at occasions, delayed his break-neck rocket testing programme and the rollout of self-driving Tesla robo-taxis.
Mr Musk nicknamed the would-be new division DOGE – a reference to the Dogecoin cryptocurrency he typically promotes – so shortly you marvel if the thought was his all alongside.
Picture:
Pic: Reuters
Eradicating regulatory limitations to his personal enterprise pursuits, or chopping contracts for his extra cumbersome, government-dependent rivals like Boeing, would clearly enchantment.
However Mr Musk can be ideological and desires to go a lot additional – arguing there’s $2tn (£1.55tn) in inefficiency to be slashed from the federal price range.
Many economists suppose this may be insane, gutting budgets for healthcare, training, science, setting and welfare, tanking the economic system and fuelling unemployment.
However Mr Musk did not grow to be the world’s richest man by doing issues by half.
His buy of Twitter for $44bn (£34bn) in 2022, was seen as a spectacularly dangerous enterprise transfer. Does it look that approach now?
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3:47
‘Trumpian Willy Wonka’ arms out cheques
Mr Musk additionally desires Mr Trump to ship on his promise to advertise the cryptocurrencies he backs ideologically and is invested in financially – even a plan to make use of a crypto value growth to pay down America’s $35tn (£27tn) debt.
And Mr Musk’s gamble in backing Mr Trump is already paying off. The worth of his firms like Tesla has grown, if X and Area X have been publicly traded, it is anticipated they’d have soared too.
The Trump-Musk relationship takes America into new, very unsure territory.
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2:49
The important thing points behind Trump’s victory
Huge enterprise has all the time sought affect in authorities – however by no means has the connection been this shut or unique.
And by no means between two males as madcap and morally faraway from the mainstream.
However will the connection endure?
Mr Musk may convey the White Home Silicon Valley experience and money. He has promised to proceed his America PAC donations to assist Republicans. His management of social media is a formidable instrument for the Trump administration.
Nevertheless, Mr Trump’s plans for aggressive tariffs may destroy Tesla’s enterprise with China.
Mr Musk has stated “f*** oil,” whereas the president-elect calls it “liquid gold”.
Then there’s the 2 males themselves. Mr Trump has stated he’ll settle for solely whole loyalty in his new administration.
Can he – extra his famously fragile ego – tolerate a person with better wealth, a clearer mission, and presumably even a bigger ego than himself?
Mr Musk is legendary for not struggling these he sees as fools, and a willingness to blow issues up in his dogged pursuit of success.
This might all finish with a bang.
