Donald Trump has recently voiced support for electric vehicles (EVs), and he credits this shift to a strong endorsement from Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Speaking at a rally in Georgia on August 3, 2024, Trump mentioned that Musk’s support made it difficult for him to oppose EVs. However, while he backs electric vehicles, Trump also criticized the current administration’s EV policies and infrastructure plans.
Elon Musk’s recent political actions show his growing influence in conservative circles. While he has publicly supported Trump, he has denied reports that he pledged $45 million to a pro-Trump super PAC. Here are all the details you need to know:
Musk leaves Trump with “no choice”
At the rally, Trump stated, “I have to be [for electric cars] because, you know, Elon endorsed me very strongly… So, I have no choice.” This highlights how significant endorsements from high-profile figures can impact political positions.
Elon Musk, who has been a major advocate for electric vehicles through his company Tesla, has recently shown support for Trump, especially after an assassination attempt on the former president.
Even though Trump supports electric vehicles, he emphasized that they should only be a part of the broader car market. He stated, “You want to have gas-propelled cars. You want to have hybrids. You want to have every kind of car.” This position contrasts with the Biden administration’s goal to have electric vehicles make up half of all new car sales by 2030. Trump has repeatedly criticized these plans, suggesting that not everyone needs to drive an electric car.
Trump still has concerns
Trump has also expressed concerns about the cost of building EV chargers across the country. He has given varying estimates for this cost, ranging from $5 trillion to $12 trillion. These figures are much higher than the $7.5 billion allocated by the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 for EV charging infrastructure. According to Politico, only 15 charging stations have been installed so far, with each receiving about $770,000 in federal funding.
In summary, Trump’s new support for electric vehicles, driven by Musk’s endorsement, shows how political support and policy opinions can shift. Although Trump supports the idea of electric cars, he remains critical of current policies and the costs associated with EV infrastructure.
Featured image credit: Library of Congress/Unsplash
