By now the sides in the field for and against electric cars are clear: on one side the populists, those who by insulting them gather consensus among the people (in the form of likes or votes if they are politicians), on the other the industrialists and the automotive. To understand, just read Salvini's statements and those of De Meo, Tavares and associates. But we just had an even more illuminating example from the conversation between Trump and Musk: the two are not “normal” people. The first is more than a politician because he is able to guide and influence other governments, the second is not just a car manufacturer because he is the richest man on the planet and has the world of technology and the future firmly in his hands .
In short, an epochal clash: the two do not agree on the policy to be followed on electric vehicles, but each needs the other. And it's official that they met face to face. Trump confirmed that he wanted the meeting but also said that he doesn't know if he will get Musk's support for his election campaign. The Donald minimizes: “I personally like the CEO of Tesla – he said – but we are not on the same page when it comes to a minor topic called electric cars”:
Other than “minor topic…”. The key to everything is precisely the much-hated battery-powered cars that Trump insults Salvini: “They don't go far, they cost too much and they will all be produced in China”, or “a completely electric future is impracticable in the short term due to the state of the electricity grid American, which is obsolete and disastrous.” And again, “We must have all the alternatives”, even reaching the last pearl: “Biden's push for electric cars is the work of very, very stupid people.”
The former president was referring to his successor's plan to increase electric vehicle production to 60% by 2030 and the investment of billions of dollars to strengthen the electricity grid and expand the availability of charging networks.
For this reason Musk said that he would not donate money to “any of the candidates for the presidency of the United States” (but few believe him) and recalled that he voted for Biden, not for Trump, in 2020, even if, according to his biographer , actually stayed home on election day. However, in May 2022, Musk said he planned to vote Republican in “this election,” but did not specify whether he was referring to the midterm elections or the 2024 presidential election. That same year, he said he was undecided whether to vote for Trump.
However, it is also true that Trump carefully avoided criticizing Musk in 2023 and the first months of 2024. But we can't forget the historic (and colorful) insults of 2022, when Trump said the tech billionaire had come to the White House asking for help “on all his many subsidized projects,” including his “electric cars that have little range.” , his “crashing driverless cars” and his “spaceships to nowhere.” “I could have said, 'get on your knees and plead,' and he would have done it,” the former president said at the time.
Now, however, it is Trump who is going to his knees from Musk and all the other car manufacturers who are betting heavily on electric cars. But not only that: the anti-electric policy also scares the unions: last Monday The Donald himself acknowledged that the United Auto Workers recently supported President Biden's campaign. Amen. Now Trump must decide: have the support of the automotive world or seek votes with his usual populism. Meanwhile, no longer able to insult electric cars, Trump now attacks unions: “They are like blind sheep. And I am sure that the auto workers will vote for me.” She's stronger than him. Someone always has to insult.
#Electric #cars #populism #industry #FormulaPassion.it
