FYI: Elon Musk and Donald Trump recently came under scrutiny from UAW President Shawn Fain, despite the basis of his criticism being inaccurate.
UAW President Criticizes Musk and Trump Over False Report
Tesla CEO Elon Musk and former President Donald Trump recently faced criticism from United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain, though the information he cited has been discredited.
False Report Ignites Controversy
The controversy began when the Wall Street Journal reported several weeks ago that Musk intended to donate $45 million a month to Trump’s new political action committee (PAC). Both Musk and Trump’s campaign strongly denied the report, with Musk dismissing it as “fake news.”
Musk and Trump Denials
Musk took to Twitter to denounce the article, emphasizing that the claims were untrue. Similarly, Trump’s campaign confirmed that there were no plans for such donations.
From Criticism to Allegations
Despite these denials, UAW President Shawn Fain did not hesitate to criticize Trump, accusing him of being a “sellout” for changing his stance on electric vehicles (EVs). Trump claimed he had to support EVs due to Musk’s presumed backing, especially after Musk publicly endorsed Trump following a failed assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Fain’s Perspective
In an interview with Reuters, Fain expressed his frustration:
“For months, Donald Trump has gone around trashing our state, trashing our industry, trashing the American autoworker, saying he was against electric vehicles. And then something happened…We saw Elon Musk announce he was going to give Donald Trump $45 million dollars a month. And all of a sudden, guess what, Trump changed his tune.”
UAW’s Political Support
The UAW has officially endorsed Kamala Harris for President, maintaining its trend of supporting Democratic candidates, including current President Joe Biden. Musk, on the other hand, has long been critical of the UAW. While he has invited union officials to hold a vote at Tesla’s factories, the UAW has yet to accept the challenge.
Conclusion
The recent spat involving Elon Musk, Donald Trump, and Shawn Fain underscores the volatility and high stakes within the automotive and political spheres. Despite the unfounded claims about Musk’s financial involvement in Trump’s campaign, the incident highlights deeper issues related to EVs, manufacturing jobs, and political endorsements.
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William Kouch, Editor of Automotive.fyi
