Elon Musk has built his career on disrupting industries, from Tesla's electric vehicles to SpaceX's rocket launches. But his latest political moves have raised eyebrows – especially from billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban.
In a recent interview, Cuban was open about what he thinks about Musk's alliance with Donald Trump, suggesting that Musk's focus on political influence could come at the expense of Tesla's core audience.
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Trading EVs for Political Power
Musk, who is reportedly staying in a $2,000-per-night cottage at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, now spends his nights just a stone's throw from Trump's main residence. This proximity is obviously about access, as Musk has been attending meetings, helping vet candidates for key government positions and actively shaping Republican strategies.
Cuban pointed out the apparent contradiction: Tesla's customer base is largely composed of environmentally conscious individuals who are unlikely to align with Trump's policies or rhetoric. Musk's decision to lean heavily into Republican politics, Cuban argued, seems to abandon the very audience that helped Tesla rise to prominence.
Brian Tyler Cohen asked Cuban whether it makes sense for Musk to support a political party that barely acknowledges climate change. As the CEO of an EV company, his consumer base consists mostly of people who care about climate change.
Cuban, who backed Kamala Harris in the recent presidential elections, answered that Musk's influence over Trump could provide unparalleled opportunities to shape policy in his favor.
"Having the power to manipulate the most powerful man in the world is far more valuable than any amount of EV sales from Tesla," Cuban remarked. "Just being able to be the Puppet Master.”
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“If you’re the wealthiest person in the world and you have effective control, you’re the Puppet Master of the president, the most powerful person in the world,” Cuban continued. “That’s about as intoxicating. That is the definition of power corrupts, but absolute power corrupts absolutely."
Musk has long been known for his bold, risky moves, but this foray into Republican politics marks a new chapter. His reported $277 million contributions to pro-Trump efforts and his hands-on involvement at Mar-a-Lago signal a significant shift in his priorities.
“Elon is the entrepreneur of our generation and maybe the entrepreneur for the next five generations, we don’t know, but in terms of his quest for power, that’s different from being an entrepreneur. You talk about insidious, yes, you see it in Twitter, you see it in his comments, you see his lack of responsibility,” Cuban said.
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