Elon Musk could be the biggest winner of a second Trump term
Elon Musk could reap numerous benefits from a friendly government run by Donald Trump.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk and his business empire stand to reap massive rewards if former President Donald Trump returns to the White House. But Musk, who has turned X into a pro-Trump echo chamber, will have unparalleled conflicts of interest if he becomes a government efficiency czar.
The potential benefits for Musk and his companies are wide-ranging: possibly touching regulatory issues like labor laws and environmental protections, lower tax rates and the chance for more government contracts for Musk’s rocket company, SpaceX.
As measured in dollars, few people may have more at stake in Tuesday’s presidential election than Musk, and in the past several months, Musk has acted accordingly, enthusiastically backing Trump’s campaign through appearances and over $118 million donated through his super PAC.
Musk, 53, could also play an influential role in a second Trump administration, as an adviser on spending cuts or in a more substantial way — which could be an ethical morass if he comes to wield power over government agencies that regulate his businesses.
Apart from ethical issues, Musk’s commercial investments abroad — particularly in China — combined with his company’s sensitive federal contracts for the U.S. military’s space program raise serious questions about conflicts of interest that could jeopardize America’s national security, according to current and former U.S. officials and experts.
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