"I Certainly Would": Trump May Appoint Musk As Adviser If He Wins (image @TeamTrump)
Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for US Presidential race, said if elected he would be open to naming Tesla CEO Elon Musk to a cabinet or advisory role. He also said that he would consider ending a $7,500 tax credit for electric-vehicle purchases.
Speaking to Reuters, Trump said that, “Tax credits and tax incentives are not generally a very good thing”. To the question of if he would consider naming Musk to an advisory role or cabinet job, Trump said, “He’s a very smart guy. I certainly would, if he would do it, I certainly would. He’s a brilliant guy”.
Musk publicly endorsed Trump in the US presidential race last month. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, taking to his X account, Musk said “I am willing to serve”. He shared the post with an AI generated image of him behind podium that read ‘Department of Government Efficiency’.
I am willing to serve pic.twitter.com/BJhGbcA2e0
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 20, 2024
Reportedly, if elected, Trump could take steps to reverse Treasury Department rules that have made it easier for automakers to take advantage of the $7,500 credit or could ask the U.S. Congress to repeal it entirely. While he was serving as the President, Trump sought to repeal the EV tax credit which was later expanded by President Joe Biden in 2022.
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“I’m not making any final decisions on it. I’m a big fan of electric cars, but I’m a fan of gasoline-propelled cars, and also hybrids and whatever else happens to come along”, Trump said about the Trump said of the EV Tax credit.
Trump said, he would revoke the Biden administration rules that will prod automakers to build more EVs and plug-in hybrids to meet stricter emissions standards and said he sees a “much smaller market” for EVs because of cost and battery range issues.
The Republican candidate also said that he would he take steps to discourage exports of vehicle produced by the Detroit Three automakers and others from Mexico for U.S consumers by imposing new tariffs. He said he would prevent Chinese automakers from building new plants in Mexico for U.S. market vehicles. Trump made similar threats during his presidency.
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At the same time, Trump is open to Chinese and other automakers building vehicles in the United States. “We’re going to give incentives, and if China and other countries want to come here and sell the cars, they’re going to build plants here, and they’re going to hire our workers,” Trump said. “We will make our own cars. I want to make our own cars”.
Donald Trump also criticised Alphabet’s Google harshly, but denied to say if he thought the technology company should be broken up after a judge ruled this month that Google was an illegal monopoly. Without explaining what penalty it would face, Trump said Google is “almost like the Wild West…They’re going to have to pay a great price”.
