Biden Drops out, Musk Tweets for Trump, and Elon Loses a Superfan
Jul 23, 2024
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Tech editor Sarah Frier joins to discuss Elon Musk's Twitter politics, his support for Trump, and the evolving Elon Musk fanbase. The conversation explores Musk's political influence, Tesla's stock performance, and Fred Lambert's journey from fan to critic.
Musk's support for Trump on Twitter raises concerns about his political shift's impact on the platform.
Elon Musk's political evolution towards the right has influenced perceptions of Tesla and impacted sales.
Deep dives
Elon Musk's Political Stance and Influence on Social Media
Elon Musk, now the richest person on the planet, has shifted his political allegiance, leading to discussions on his influence on social media. Amid the election news, Musk's support for Donald Trump raises questions about his partisanship and the impact on the social media platform he owns.
Twitter's Significance in Political Conversations
The announcement of President Joe Biden's decision not to run for office was a notable moment on Twitter, highlighting the platform's importance in political discourse. Despite Twitter's changing dynamics, it remains a vital space, especially for influential political figures.
Elon Musk's Increasing Right-Wing Alignment
Elon Musk's political evolution towards the right has drawn attention, influencing perceptions of Tesla and impacting sales. His engagement with right-wing politics and controversial statements, including promoting conspiracy theories, have sparked debates about his role in the political landscape.
Tesla's Future under Elon Musk's Leadership
As Elon Musk explores AI, robot taxis, and visionary initiatives, questions arise about his continued role as Tesla's CEO. While viewed as a visionary, concerns about his part-time management and potential impact on Tesla's growth suggest the need for a full-time CEO for the company's future success.
When President Joe Biden announced that he was dropping his campaign for re-election, the news reached most people via the President's post to X. Some are calling that a win for Musk's beleaguered platform, but Musk himself seemed to be preoccupied with propping up former President Trump's campaign on X, a platform Trump himself won't even use. David and Max are joined by tech editor Sarah Frier to dig into how it all played out on X.Plus, the first installment of our Summer Conversation Series: Max Chafkin speaks with Fred Lambert, editor-in-chief of Electrek, about how the Venn diagram of Elon Musk fans and Tesla fans has evolved in parallel with the Elon Musk's political shift.