Elon Musk has accused Jeff Bezos of advising people to sell Tesla stock based on the prediction of Donald Trump’s electoral loss. Bezos denied this claim. Musk’s support for Trump has been financially beneficial for Tesla as stocks surged post-election. The rivalry between Musk and Bezos also extends into space exploration, impacting their business dealings.
Recently, Elon Musk reignited his longstanding rivalry with Jeff Bezos when he claimed that Bezos advised associates to sell their Tesla shares based on the assumption that Donald Trump would lose the presidential election. Musk made this assertion via a post on the social media platform X, stating, “Just learned tonight at Mar-a-Lago that Jeff Bezos was telling everyone that @realDonaldTrump would lose for sure, so they should sell all their Tesla and SpaceX stock.” In response, Bezos firmly denied this claim, stating, “Nope. 100% not true.” Musk humorously acknowledged this denial, saying, “Well, then, I stand corrected,” punctuated with a laughing emoji.
The dynamics of this year’s presidential election have significantly impacted the fortunes of Musk’s businesses. Musk has heavily invested in Trump’s campaign, and his relationship with the incoming president appears to be strengthening, as indicated by Musk’s presence in Trump’s family photo on election night. Following Musk’s endorsement, Trump expressed newfound support for electric vehicles, stating, “I’m for electric cars, I have to be because Elon endorsed me very strongly.” As a result, Tesla stock experienced a considerable surge post-election, climbing approximately 40% in just a week, indicating that the electoral outcome held substantial stakes for Musk, who previously acknowledged he would have faced significant challenges had Trump lost.
Furthermore, while some business leaders hesitated to endorse Trump, aware of potential repercussions during his presidency, Bezos chose not to publicly support either presidential candidate. This decision followed backlash over his newspaper, The Washington Post, being restricted from endorsing a candidate. Bezos defended his stance, asserting that such endorsements do not significantly influence election outcomes and instead foster perceptions of bias.
The rivalry between Musk and Bezos extends beyond politics into the realm of space exploration. Amazon’s recent announcement of a significant rocket contract for its Project Kuiper was met with criticism regarding the exclusion of SpaceX from the procurement process, attributing this omission to Bezos’s competition with Musk. Musk has previously ridiculed Bezos, suggesting he is focused on litigating against SpaceX rather than advancing his own ventures in space exploration.
In conclusion, the ongoing tensions between Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos demonstrate how intertwined their personal and business interests have become, particularly in relation to political dynamics and the burgeoning commercial space race. As both leaders navigate their competitive landscape, their interactions continue to capture significant attention within the media and the business community.
The article discusses the latest developments in the ongoing rivalry between Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, particularly following Musk’s claim that Bezos advised individuals to divest from Tesla shares due to the anticipation of Trump’s electoral defeat. The relationship between business leaders and political figures has implications for their companies, as exemplified by Musk’s investments in Trump’s campaign and the subsequent rise in Tesla’s stock price. This article also touches on how Bezos’s decision to refrain from political endorsements contrasts with Musk’s supportive stance towards Trump, ultimately impacting their respective business trajectories in the competitive landscape of space exploration and electric vehicles.
In summary, the playful yet pointed critique exchanged between Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos underscores the complex interplay of personal rivalry, business interests, and political dynamics. As both leaders navigate their respective industries, their actions and statements will remain closely monitored for indications of their strategies and forthcoming ventures in the competitive realms of electric vehicles and space exploration.
Original Source: fortune.com
