“We have a new star. A new star is born: Elon. » In a somewhat disjointed 25-minute victory speech, Donald Trump devoted 3 minutes and 45 seconds to praising one of his main supporters, billionaire Elon Musk, boss of the social network Wednesday November 6, 2024.
Follow our live broadcast this Wednesday, November 6 on the American elections
The now 47e President of the United States even went so far as to promote, still during his speech, Starlink, the billionaire's telecommunications system. He recounted his meeting with victims of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina: “They told me: “We need Elon, we need Starlink.” Elon, what is Starlink? It's a communication system, which is very good. […] It saved a lot of lives, it saved a lot of lives”said Donald Trump. “He’s a character, he’s a special guy. He’s a super genius”added Donald Trump to his now political companion, who was present this Wednesday at Mar-a-Lago in Florida to celebrate the Republican's victory.
Read also: VIDEO SURVEY. How Elon Musk is trying to swing the US election
$118.6 million since July
A communications operation of formidable efficiency for the Silicon Valley billionaire. The Stock Exchange was not mistaken. On Wall Street, shares of car manufacturer Tesla, owned by Elon Musk, climbed more than 13% in pre-session trading on Wednesday.
Donald Trump's words for his wealthy supporter sound like a return of the elevator. Indeed, Elon Musk, who voted Democratic for a long time, has changed sides since this summer. To the point of becoming one of the biggest donors to the Republican candidate's campaign. The boss of Tesla paid a little more than 118.6 million dollars (110 million euros) to the “America Pac”, this “Super pac” system which allows the richest to finance the campaign of a candidate, with no participation ceiling. He also supported him publicly, jumping on stage and speaking at his rallies. The billionaire also distributed $16 million (around 14.7 million euros) in “lotteries” to voters sharing Republican values in “swing states”.
If the two men were able to confront each other in the past, they have one thing in common, points out the Guardian : a fierce hatred of regulators. Elon Musk is regularly called to order for the activities of his companies. Like when the Federal Aviation Administration accuses it of not respecting safety protocols for sending its SpaceX rocket. Or when the Federal Food and Drug Agency warned of failures to respect animal welfare by its subsidiary Neuralink, intended to develop a brain implant.
Forgotten by the White House
Tired, Elon Musk sees in Donald Trump a way to circumvent these regulations, or even to modify them from the inside. Asked about Fox Newsthe former and now new president of the United States declared that Elon Musk “would die of envy” to occupy a position – which does not currently exist – of Secretary of State for Cost Reduction (« secretary of cost-cutting »). But the rapprochement with Trump is also ideological: Elon Musk is now fighting against what he describes as « wokisme »against deindustrialization, against illegal immigration — being himself an immigrant, a native of South Africa.
Read also: American presidential election: what Trump's election will change in the world and in the United States
“His commitment also reflects a hardening of relations with Joe Biden”comments Olivier Alexandre, sociologist and researcher at CNRS, specialist in Silicon Valley and the digital industry. In 2021, the Democratic president is organizing a summit on electric cars at the White House… but without the boss of Tesla. Very upset, Elon Musk will retain a tenacious animosity against the Democrats.
Entrepreneur, billionaire, head of media X… Elon Musk was already concentrating “historical power”. He now has access to “direct political power”, analyzes Olivier Alexandre. “The future is going to be fantastic”the entrepreneur tweeted just after Trump's victory. His risky bet, to support the Republicans paid off. He is now waiting to reap the rewards.
