Former President Trump said he continues to oppose “certain” electric vehicles (EVs), despite billionaire Elon Musk supporting his campaign.
Trump told Fox News’ Jesse Watters in an interview Tuesday that despite Musk’s endorsement, the Tesla CEO “never” asked the Republican candidate to “set aside” criticism of EVs.
“I’ll tell you, he never called me and said, could you stop with the electric car?” Trump told Fox News.
“I love Elon. And I have to tell you something about this, he supported me. He announced that he will give me $45 million a month. And yet, I am against certain electrical products,” Trump said. “I love electric cars for people who want them. People who don’t want to drive across the country. People who don’t want to travel long distances. You would have to stop a lot. But if you go back and forth or something, I think they have a great place.”
Trump has criticized subsidies for electric vehicles as well as initiatives to increase the proportion of EVs made in the US
The former president has sought to emphasize his support for gas-powered vehicles and introduce himself to auto workers in the Rust Belt, especially in Michigan, a key battleground state in November that he won in 2016 but lost in 2020.
The Republican candidate also used EVs as a cudgel against the United Auto Workers union, which supported Biden and is expected to endorse Vice President Harris’ campaign.
The Biden administration, as part of a broader goal of halving U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by the end of the decade, has worked to promote increased use of EVs through measures including tax credits for purchase one. Biden has set a goal for electric vehicles to account for half of new car sales by 2030, while Trump has pledged to roll back large swaths of his agenda.
Musk appeared to backtrack on his $45 million-a-month commitment on Tuesday, saying he will donate “at a much lower level” to a super PAC that supports Trump. Musk endorsed Trump last week, shortly after the former president survived an assassination attempt.
“I fully support President Trump and hope for his speedy recovery,” Musk wrote in a post on his social platform X, alongside a video of the former president standing and raising his fist after being shot in the ear.
Musk appeared to be getting closer and closer to Trump in recent months, with Wall Street Journal report in late May, the billionaire and the former president discussed a possible advisory role for Musk in a second Trump administration.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
