Donald Trump’s election-night handle to the nation confirmed that one of many night’s largest winners—along with himself—was Elon Musk.
Trump spent a hefty portion of his scattered victory speech thanking Musk, who has just lately spent greater than $130 million and a variety of time and tweets to the conservative political trigger. Particularly, Trump had excessive reward for Musk’s rocket firm SpaceX and its Starlink web satellites—two enterprise models ripe for presidency contracts.
“We have to protect our super geniuses,” the president-elect stated. On the marketing campaign path, Trump stated he’ll create a brand new “government efficiency” place in his administration for the tech CEO, at Musk’s request.
Musk is understood to quote authorities overreach within the face of any fantastic or penalty. So it’s unsurprising that the multibillionaire has tied himself to Trump, who has promised to roll again laws.
On prime of probably looser authorities oversight, Musk’s alliance with Trump could assist him safe federal contracts. The New York Occasions reviews that SpaceX and Tesla have already racked up at the least $15.4 billion in authorities contracts over the previous decade. Musk’s colleagues and authorities officers instructed Reuters the billionaire’s funding in Trump is a part of a broader effort to defend his corporations from regulation and safe entry to authorities subsidies.
Under are simply a few of the methods every of Musk’s companies stands to achieve from Trump retaking the White Home.
SpaceX and Starlink
Tensions between the Federal Aviation Administration and SpaceX are excessive. In September, Musk known as for the resignation of FAA Chief Michael Whitaker over $630,000 in fines levied in opposition to SpaceX for violations involving its rocket launches. Musk has stated his plans for a division of presidency effectivity (DOGE) underneath Trump contains loosening laws on his rocket launches.
In the meantime, Starlink, the satellite tv for pc web unit of SpaceX, may additionally get a friendlier reception from the Federal Communications Fee underneath Trump, assuming the president faucets Republican commissioner Brendan Carr to exchange present chair Jessica Rosenworcel. Carr has known as the FCC’s resolution in 2022 to revoke $885 million in subsidies to Starlink “regulatory harassment.” And Trump himself has recommended utilizing Starlink’s satellite tv for pc companies for rural connectivity—a possible monetary boon to Starlink—as a part of the federal government $42 billion plan for future broadband funding.
X
Following Musk’s $44 billion takeover of what was as soon as Twitter, the Federal Commerce Fee investigated whether or not X and its new proprietor have been in violation of an present FTC information privateness settlement with the corporate. After his acquisition of the service, now referred to as X, Musk lower its privateness and safety compliance groups that have been supposed to maintain the corporate within the FTC’s good graces. Final week, Musk promised some payback by saying that FTC Chair Lina Khan can be fired underneath a Trump administration. By no means thoughts the truth that Trump’s vice chairman, JD Vance, has praised Khan for being powerful on monopolies.
xAI
Musk’s generative AI startup, xAI, has a chatbot that competes in opposition to OpenAI’s ChatGPT and different large-language fashions. Musk is due to this fact very fascinated with any regulation that impacts AI.
To date, federal talks about passing a broad regulation of AI corporations haven’t materialized. However Musk may nonetheless intervene by advising Trump on a lighter-touch alternative to the Biden administration’s AI govt order, a framework for AI use and growth that put some restrictions on AI corporations.
In California, Musk backed controversial security laws, SB 1047, that may have reined in giant AI corporations. That laws was fiercely opposed by enterprise capitalists and large-scale builders, citing the doubtless catastrophic dangers of synthetic intelligence.
Tesla
Federal auto security regulators final month hit Tesla with a brand new investigation of its Full Self-Driving mode, which partially automates human driving, after a Tesla driver fatally struck a pedestrian. Musk may use his affect to form federal auto security enforcement or the federal regulation of self-driving automobiles or robotaxis. It’s an space that he cares deeply about, as Tesla hopes to introduce robotaxis to tackle more-established opponents like Alphabet’s Waymo and even GM’s Cruise.
Musk may additionally attempt to foyer Trump about his opposition to the Biden administration’s electrical automobile tax credit, which incentivize EV purchases.
Trump’s promise to lift Biden’s present tariffs on China and different competing nations may be sophisticated for Musk. Curbing the import of cheaper EVs would get rid of a few of Tesla’s competitors within the U.S., however escalating a commerce battle would additionally damage tech broadly by disrupting reliance on China and Taiwan for chips.
Regardless of the case, buyers are hopeful: Tesla inventory spiked 15% following Trump’s victory speech.
Boring Firm
Musk’s visions for high-speed transit like Boring Firm’s Hyperloop undertaking are stifled by regulation and the restrictions of present expertise. As a substitute, it has centered on a decrease tech model: Teslas ferrying passengers underground close to the Las Vegas conference heart. The undertaking has confronted an OSHA investigation over office security. However regardless of the excessive prices, sophisticated infrastructure, and unsafe situations, Musk has insisted authorities regulation is in charge for tunnel initiatives in another U.S. cities falling by way of. In any case, having allies within the U.S. authorities may make it simpler for Boring win main infrastructure initiatives.
Neuralink
As founding father of mind chip firm Neuralink, Musk has criticized prolonged approval processes by the Meals and Drug Administration for brand spanking new medicine and medical gadgets, claiming at one Pennsylvania rally that “overregulation kills people.” It was later reported that the most cancers drug Musk was referencing was, in reality, authorized. Nonetheless, Musk’s imaginative and prescient for widespread “government efficiency” would possible goal the FDA, too, and doubtlessly get his Neuralink speedier approvals. To date, Neuralink has implanted mind gadgets in two sufferers with FDA approval.
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