Elon Musk couldn’t change Trump’s mind on electric vehicles

Elon Musk and President Donald Trump, both influential and vocal billionaires in the United States, continue to have a complicated falling out over various issues. It’s not surprising that these two individuals with significant egos would clash, but it’s intriguing to delve into the specific factors causing tension between them.

One major point of contention is the differing opinions of Trump and Musk on climate change and clean energy. Musk, the CEO of electric car company Tesla, was involved in White House councils during Trump’s initial term but disengaged after Trump initiated the process of withdrawing the US from the Paris climate agreement.

Despite initially aligning with Trump, Musk gradually shifted towards the political right, publicly supporting Trump’s re-election campaign and receiving a prominent role as the head of a newly established Department of Government Efficiency. However, disagreements arose when Musk departed from the department and opposed a budget bill endorsed by Trump, further straining their relationship.

The bill in question reverses tax credits for electric vehicles and imposes a $250 fee on owners to fund the Highway Trust Fund, which supports road maintenance through gasoline taxes. Despite Musk’s ownership of an electric vehicle company, he prioritizes concerns about the bill’s impact on the deficit over the rollback of EV tax credits.

The ongoing conflict between Trump and Musk is emblematic of the broader political divisions surrounding clean technology, such as electric vehicles and renewable energy sources. A recent poll by the Pew Research Center highlighted the divergent views of Republicans and Democrats on clean tech, with support for nuclear energy being a notable exception.

While Republicans tend to favor fossil fuel extraction, Democrats express greater interest in clean technologies like electric vehicles. The partisan divide extends to preferences for hybrid cars over pure EVs, with Democrats showing less favorability towards Tesla EVs.

The increasing adoption of electric vehicles contrasts with resistance to phasing out gasoline-powered cars by 2035 in California and other states. Despite these challenges, the growth of wind, solar, EVs, and grid batteries continues unabated, driven by declining costs and improved performance.

Even as Trump considers selling his Tesla Model S amid tensions with Musk, it is evident that shifting political attitudes cannot halt the momentum behind technologies combating climate change. While some outliers, like Iowa Trump supporters who endorse wind power, exist, the trajectory of clean energy technologies remains strong and resilient despite potential policy setbacks.