Donald Trump used a conversation with Elon Musk on Monday night via the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to rally the Tesla CEO’s followers to support his presidential campaign. However, Musk took the opportunity to deliver a more nuanced message to Trump’s supporters: stop demonizing electric vehicles (EVs).
Musk emphasized that the world should transition toward sustainable energy and that battery-powered cars can contribute to that future without compromising on lifestyle or enjoyment. He stressed that Tesla’s vehicles are designed to be desirable, fast, and appealing, aligning with consumer desires without forcing environmental sacrifices.
Additionally, Musk emphasized that their cars prioritize both environmentalism and luxury, ensuring that they are beautiful, drive well, and are fast and sleek.
This message comes at a critical time for Tesla, which has faced declining sales and production in recent quarters. The EV maker has already projected that its volume growth for 2024 will be significantly lower. Also, it’s important to note that EV adoption in the U.S. has been politicized, with sales lagging in regions dominated by Republican voters.
Meanwhile, Trump has been skeptical of electric vehicles in the past, but he recently began praising Tesla and acknowledged Musk’s innovative products during their discussion.
Musk also addressed the broader energy debate, stating that while the world should gradually move toward sustainability, vilifying the oil and gas industry is unnecessary. He pointed out that the global economy still relies heavily on fossil fuels, and an abrupt shift away from them could lead to economic collapse.
According to Musk, “I don’t think we should vilify people for it, but I think we should just generally lean in the direction of sustainability.” He added, “But we don’t need to rush, and we don’t need to stop farmers from farming or prevent people from having steaks.”
