Former US President Donald Trump has expressed openness to appointing Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, to a cabinet or advisory position should he be elected president this year.
The revelation came during a wide-ranging interview in which Trump also outlined his views on electric vehicles, energy policy, and environmental concerns.
In the interview, Trump praised Musk’s intellect, stating, “He’s very smart. I had a great talk with him the other day… I certainly would [consider him for a role] if he would do it. He’s a brilliant guy.” This potential collaboration between two of America’s most prominent and controversial business figures could have significant implications for US technology and energy policies.
Trump’s consideration of Musk for a high-level position comes amidst his criticism of current electric vehicle (EV) mandates and green energy initiatives. The former president expressed skepticism about the practicality and cost-effectiveness of a widespread transition to EVs, highlighting concerns that resonate with many consumers and industry stakeholders.
“I’m a big fan of electric cars, but it’s going to be a smaller, much smaller market,” Trump said. He pointed to limitations in range and high costs as primary obstacles to mass EV adoption. “They don’t go far enough, and they’re very expensive,” he added.
Trump’s stance on EVs appears nuanced. While expressing admiration for the technology and its proponents, including Musk, he emphasized the importance of consumer choice in the automotive market. “What I would do is very strongly… rescind the mandate because the mandate is ridiculous. People want to buy a gasoline-powered car, propelled car, if they want to do that. I think they should. If they want to buy a hybrid, they should be able to buy a hybrid,” Trump stated.
The former president raised concerns about the economic feasibility of a nationwide EV charging infrastructure. “For this country to build charging stations all throughout the nation will cost anywhere from three to five trillion dollars. No country has enough money to do that,” he claimed.
Trump also indicated that he is reconsidering EV tax credits, a key policy tool used by the current administration to incentivize EV adoption. “We’re looking at that. That’s a big thing,” he said, adding, “Tax credits and tax incentives are not generally a very good thing.”
In a broader criticism of current green energy policies, Trump singled out wind energy for particular scrutiny. He described wind power as “a disaster” and “the most expensive form of energy there is,” claiming it is “literally putting us out of business as a country.” He also raised environmental concerns about wind turbines, citing their alleged impact on wildlife, particularly whales.
