From barbs to blows? 6 methods Trump can hurt Musk

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US President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, as soon as allies and pals, have turned enemies with final night time’s public feud on social media wherein they focused one another with brutal barbs. What started with Musk’s criticism of the federal government’s new tax invoice turned an unpleasant slanging match. Trump claimed he had reduce Musk out of key EV coverage choices and stripped him of affect in Washington. In a submit on his personal platform X, Musk wrote, “Time to drop the actually large bomb: @realDonaldTrump is within the Epstein recordsdata. That’s the actual motive they haven’t been made public. Have a pleasant day, DJT!”

Musk’s Epstein remark appears to be a degree of no return for friends-turned-foes although a number of MAGA figures have requested them to patch up. If reconciliation fails, there might be a long-drawn gladiatorial match between the 2 hottest conservative figures within the US. Whereas Musk can erode a big a part of Trump’s MAGA base which believes in spending cuts and appreciates Musk’s progressive DOGE work, Trump can hurt Musk’s a number of companies. Because the Musk-Trump on-line feud escalated yesterday, Trump threatened Musk on social media: “The best manner to economize in our Price range, Billions and Billions of {Dollars}, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts. I used to be at all times shocked that Biden didn’t do it!” Trump posted on social media Thursday.

Nevertheless, a much bigger hurt Trump can do to Musk is thru authorities regulation of his numerous companies. The chance US regulators will take purpose at Musk’s many companies turned an actual risk after the billionaire’s deep political ties with Trump disintegrated on Thursday, Reuters reported.

Beneath is a listing of six US regulators who oversee Musk’s firms, together with automaker Tesla, rocket and satellite tv for pc firm SpaceX, mind implant firm Neuralink, social media platform X and development agency The Boring Firm:

Federal Communications Fee

The Federal Communications Fee in April voted to open a evaluation of the decades-old spectrum sharing regime between satellite tv for pc methods sought by SpaceX. SpaceX needs entry to new spectrum from the FCC within the coming years to hurry deployment of satellite-based web service. The evaluation by the US telecom regulator goals to permit a better and extra intensive use of spectrum for house actions. Present reductions authorised within the Nineties restrict energy utilization that stop higher protection from SpaceX’s Starlink and different methods.

Meals and Drug Administration

The FDA oversees the medical trials for Neuralink, Musk’s mind implant firm, deciding whether or not such trials can happen and whether or not Neuralink can ultimately promote its machine to shoppers. The company already authorised such trials within the U.S. Neuralink has additionally been pursuing medical trials exterior the US, together with in Canada. The FDA had initially rejected Neuralink’s request to start out medical trials, citing security dangers, Reuters reported in 2023. The company has since given the startup approval to do medical trials, that are ongoing.

Environmental Safety Company

SpaceX faces environmental laws from the EPA, which oversees the corporate’s wastewater discharges at its working website in Texas. The corporate’s operations are additionally topic to environmental opinions below the Nationwide Environmental Coverage Act, with a number of businesses together with the Fish and Wildlife Service required to research the impression of the corporate’s rocket launches and landings on land, water and wildlife.

Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration

Tesla faces ongoing oversight from US auto security investigators concerning the security of its autos particularly when utilizing superior driver help methods. Final month, the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration requested Tesla to reply questions on its plans to launch a paid robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, in June, so as to assess how the electrical car maker’s automobiles with full self-driving expertise will carry out in poor climate.

NHTSA has been investigating Tesla’s full self-driving collisions in decreased roadway visibility situations since October. The company stated it’s in search of further details about Tesla’s improvement of robotaxis “to evaluate the flexibility of Tesla’s system to react appropriately to decreased roadway visibility situations” as nicely particulars on robotaxi deployment plans and the expertise getting used.

Federal Aviation Administration

In September, the FAA proposed a $633,000 superb in opposition to SpaceX for failing to comply with license necessities in 2023 earlier than two launches. That investigation stays open. The FAA may additionally impose new restrictions or further scrutiny after a collection of explosions of SpaceX launches.