Elon Musk tried to launder Donald Trump’s disastrous climate record

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🗞️ Driving the news: During a two-hour conversation on X, Elon Musk attempted to soften Donald Trump’s stance on electric vehicles (EVs) and climate change, despite Trump’s historically poor environmental record
• Musk, who has endorsed Trump and is financially backing his campaign, balanced promoting his EVs with support for oil and gas drilling, reflecting a more MAGA-friendly approach

🔭 The context: Musk's endorsement of Trump, a candidate known for rolling back environmental protections, clashes with his public image as a proponent of sustainability
• The conversation highlighted Musk’s efforts to appeal to Trump’s base by downplaying climate urgency while still pushing for renewable energy and EVs

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Musk's alignment with Trump could undermine global efforts to combat climate change by supporting policies that favor fossil fuels over renewable energy
• This partnership raises concerns about Musk's true commitment to a sustainable future

⏭️ What's next: Musk's influence on Trump may lead to a more favorable stance on EVs from the former president, but it also risks entrenching fossil fuel interests, which could stall progress on climate action if Trump returns to power

💬 One quote: "I don’t think we should vilify the oil and gas industry and the people that have worked very hard in those industries to provide the necessary energy to support the economy,” — Elon Musk

📈 One stat: Trump's administration rolled back or weakened more than 100 environmental regulations during his term

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