Elon Musk: God Bless!!! ‘If Trump loses, I’m done for’

What will Elon Musk get after Mr. Trump is re-elected President of the United States?

This year’s US presidential election season, Elon Musk and his giant business empire have a special connection.

Since announcing his sponsorship of Donald Trump’s campaign, the billionaire has continuously used X to express his support for Trump and even shared the stage with Trump at least twice to meet voters.

Musk has also directly hosted a series of political conversations and invested more than $ 130 million in Trump’s presidential bid this year. Musk has also pledged to give away $ 1 million a day to those who sign a petition to protect free speech and the right to bear arms.

In a conversation with Tucker Carlson – a former Fox TV host, Musk even joked: “If he (Mr. Trump) loses, I’m done for.”

Musk’s actions raise the question: What will Musk gain if Mr. Trump is re-elected President of the United States?

The answer: A lot!

Many of Elon Musk’s companies are now heavily dependent on federal approvals, regulations, grants and contracts. And Trump has promised a more “friendly” regulatory environment for businesses through lower personal and corporate taxes.

If Trump is re-elected, University of California Berkeley professor Francesco Trebbi says Musk could benefit from “key appointments to the public administration.” This could secure him valuable connections to expand further over the next four years.

Trump himself has incorporated some of Musk’s policy proposals into his campaign, with plans to create a government efficiency commission headed by Musk. Trump has said the commission would conduct “a financial and performance audit of the entire federal government” and make recommendations for “dramatic reforms.”

Erik Gordon, chair of business studies at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, said a Trump presidency could also lead to less regulatory oversight. That could give Musk “more freedom to develop cutting-edge technologies — one of the things he loves to do.”

Not to mention, Tesla is at a pivotal moment, with investors eyeing Musk’s pledge to secure approval for fully autonomous vehicles in Texas and California. But ongoing investigations into Tesla’s self-driving technology by government agencies, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, could slow down the company’s self-driving plans.

On a recent earnings call, Musk suggested that if there were an effective government commission, he would help move the approval process state-by-state with “a federal approval process for autonomous vehicles.”

For SpaceX, Trebbi said a Trump presidency could help the company win major contracts with the Department of Defense. That could help the company keep an edge over rivals like Blue Origin.

So what would happen to Musk and his business empire if Harris wins?

While Musk could gain power, government contracts and looser regulations under Trump, it’s unclear how he would be affected by a Harris win.

A key policy on many business leaders’ minds is Harris’ proposed tax plan. She aims to raise the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28%—a move that Bank of America estimates could reduce profits by as much as 5%. That, combined with the potential for tighter regulations, could hurt a number of companies, including those owned by Musk.

Gordon said Harris could introduce new safety regulations or introduce tax credits for electric or autonomous vehicles that would benefit competitors.

As for X, which Musk sees as a platform for free speech, Gordon said the Harris administration could press for a ban on material labeled as “misinformation.” However, Gordon said X would likely prevail under the First Amendment.