Tesla Inc. TSLA CEO Elon Musk disclosed that former President Donald Trump is a big supporter of electric vehicles, despite his public criticism of the industry.
What Happened: At Tesla’s annual meeting, Musk stated that Trump is a "huge fan" of the company’s futuristic Cybertruck, reported Bloomberg. Musk also mentioned that Trump frequently calls him, even though the reason for these calls remains unclear.
"I have had some conversations with him and he does call me out of the blue for no reason," Musk said.
Trump, who is expected to be the Republican presidential nominee, has previously expressed skepticism about EVs and their potential impact on the U.S. auto industry. However, his stance appears to have softened recently, with Musk advising him on cryptocurrency policy and Trump publicly praising Musk and EVs at a rally in Arizona.
Musk also highlighted that he has informed Trump about the benefits of EVs for the future and the U.S.’s leadership in battery-powered cars. He suggested that Trump’s friends, who are now Tesla owners, may have influenced his positive view of the Cybertruck.
During the Q&A session, Musk was asked about his well-being, to which he humorously replied, “I probably need to work out and not get assassinated or something.”
Why It Matters: The relationship between Elon Musk and Donald Trump has evolved significantly over recent months. Back in March, Trump met with Musk and other Republican donors in a private meeting in Palm Beach, Florida, as he sought financial backing for his campaign.
Following this meeting, Musk announced he would not financially support either Trump or current President Joe Biden in the 2024 election.
Price Action: Tesla Inc closed at $182.47 on Thursday, up 2.92% for the day. In after-hours trading, the stock rose to $182.70, up 0.13%. However, over the past year, Tesla’s stock has seen a significant decline of 28.94%, according to the data from Benzinga Pro.
Read Next: Musk’s Dire Prediction: Civilization Rapidly Drifting Towards a Dystopian or Utopian Future
Image Via Shutterstock
This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Kaustubh Bagalkote
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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