Elon Musk Announces Plans to Cut Political Spending

Musk to Reduce Political Spending and Focus on Business

Elon Musk, the tech mogul behind Tesla and SpaceX, has announced that he plans to scale back his political spending. Speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum, Musk said, “In terms of political spending, I’m going to do a lot less in the future.” He previously spent over $290 million to back Donald Trump and other candidates in the 2024 elections, but now he feels he has contributed enough, at least for the time being. When pressed on the decision, Musk suggested he doesn’t see an immediate need to invest further in politics, stating, “I think I’ve done enough.”

Maintaining Ties with the Government Amid Spending Cuts

Despite his reduced political contributions, Musk is still active in Washington, maintaining relations with the administration. Just recently, he mentioned that he would spend one to two days a week dealing with various governance issues. This week, he has dinner planned with Trump and meetings lined up with Cabinet secretaries. However, Musk dismissed concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest due to his companies’ dealings with the government. He claimed, “I don’t have formal power, and a president can choose to accept my advice or not,” arguing there’s no evidence of any wrongdoing or impropriety.

A Tense Interview and Questions of Justice

The interview with Mishal Husain did not shy away from tough questions. Issues were raised about Musk’s Starlink internet service and its operations in South Africa, amid claims of racial discrimination in business dealings there. When confronted about possible conflicts of interest, Musk expressed frustration, saying he saw no merit in the allegations and shifted the blame to the country’s laws. Husain, not backing down, emphasized the need for equal economic policies. This dynamic made for a tense encounter, showcasing Musk’s defensiveness when faced with critical journalism, something he hasn’t experienced often since aligning with Trump.