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- During a recent rally, Trump expressed his support for electric vehicles due to Elon Musk’s endorsement.
- He also voiced his concerns regarding EV infrastructure and President Biden’s mandates surrounding electric vehicles.
- Musk has shown backing for Trump lately but has refuted claims of a $45 million donation to a pro-Trump super PAC.
Trump’s Electric Vehicle Stance: Influenced by Musk but Critical of Regulations
Recently, former President Donald Trump announced that he felt compelled to endorse electric vehicles (EVs) after receiving strong backing from Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Musk: An Advocate for Change Turned Political Ally
Musk has been an influential figure in promoting the transition to electric mobility. His company Tesla has been at the forefront of this movement and initially gained favor among environmentally conscious progressives. However, as time progressed, Musk’s political views have shifted toward conservative ideologies – particularly emphasizing free speech matters. Following his takeover of Twitter in 2022 and its rebranding as X, he implemented changes that rolled back numerous safeguards against harmful rhetoric and misinformation on social media.
A Dual Approach to Automotive Preferences
During a rally in Georgia over the weekend, Trump acknowledged his support for electric cars while asserting that traditional gas-powered vehicles and hybrids should remain available options. He told attendees:
“I’m advocating for electric cars because I feel I must—after all, Elon backed me very strongly.”
Continuing this sentiment, he explained his belief that EVs should only represent “a small slice” within the broader automotive market landscape:
“We need gas-engine cars; hybrids are important too. Having diverse choices is crucial.”
Criticism Aimed at Biden’s Policies on Electric Vehicles
Troubling aspects of current policies were addressed by Trump as he criticized the Biden administration’s ambitious goal which seeks to make half of new vehicle sales electrically powered by 2030. While discussing these regulations during a bitcoin conference earlier this year?, he reiterated:
“Not everyone opts for an electric car—I’ve communicated this clearly with him,” referring again to Musk.
The goal is simple: Let’s eliminate those mandates! Some people prefer traditional gasoline-fueled automobiles or hybrid versions; diversity benefits us all!
The Burden of Charger Installation Costs Under Scrutiny
A major focal point of Trump’s criticism directed toward mandatory EV charge point installations highlighted issues surrounding costs associated with implementing nationwide charging stations. He controversially claimed eight chargers had cost $9 billion in one Midwest project without basis.
| Date/Event | Description | -Cost Estimates- | (Trillions) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin Conference | Biden’s charger plans being discussed | $12| -North Carolina Rally– | -Cost prediction revisited–<- $"9 | : Reducing estimates further -> | |
Thus far under provisions from Bipartisan efforts made through The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act enacted last year? Multiple available reports indicated only about fifteen charging stations have actually been installed nationwide despite allocations totaling $7.5 billion aimed explicitly towards establishing countless more locations capable across America.
Accordingly – research indicates each completed installation amounts roughly costing around $770K taxpayer funds directly supporting them!
