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Tesla CEO Elon Musk Joins President Trump's New Manufacturing Council (electrek.co)

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Electrek: Tesla CEO Elon Musk was already on President Trump's Strategic and Policy Forum, but the White House announced today that he will also be joining the administration's new manufacturing council, a private sector group that advises the U.S. secretary of commerce. He headed a meeting on Monday at the White House. Musk was present along with several other industry leaders who are now also formally joining the manufacturing council. CNBC reports: "The group of business leaders includes Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk and chief executives of large American companies like Ford, Dow Chemical, General Electric, Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Richard Trumka, president of the labor federation AFL-CIO, will also give advice." As we recently reported, while Musk's mission to accelerate the advent of renewable energy might seem at odd with Trump's plan to unlock fossil fuel reserve, but Musk is betting that job creation is more important to the new President than simply satisfying the oil industry. If Trump wants to be the champion of job creation and Tesla shows that renewables create a lot of jobs, then their interests are aligned. Tesla currently employs over 30,000 people, more than 25,000 of which are in the U.S. The company wants to add over 3,000 manufacturing jobs at its factory in Fremont, California, 1,000 at its solar panel factory in Buffalo, New York, and over to 6,500 at the Gigafactory in Nevada.

137 comments

  1. I feel conflicted about this by JoshuaZ · · Score: 3, Interesting

    On the one hand, Trump is so terribly awful that any sort of support of him is problematic and dangerous. It risks becoming swept up in his complete disregard for facts or decency. On the other hand, having a few people involved like Musk are very sane and wealthy enough that Trump will listen to them (wealth being apparently one of the very few things he cares about), and might be positive moderating influences.

    1. Re:I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Suck it up Buttercup

    2. Re:I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Grab my buttery pussy.

    3. Re:I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      CNN reports that multiple intelligence sources confirm that Donald Trump breathes air and drinks water. If we do the same we risk normalizing Trump and implicitly endorsing his march toward complete planetary annihilation.

      I suggest we all immediately stop breathing and drinking, and spend the next four years chanting anti-Trump mantras at a wall in Queens.

    4. Re:I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is this an example of... "when they go low, we go high"?

    5. Re:I feel conflicted about this by hey! · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Look, even Bernie Sanders says he'll work with Trump, and it's not because Sanders has changed his feelings about the "billionaire class". It's because Bernie has cynically sized up Trump as a selfish putz who wouldn't hesitate to stab is Republican "friends" in the back if it flattered his ego. That's a good thing from Sanders' point of view.

      You don't have to like or even respect someone to use them; you just have to be wary of getting used yourself.

      --
      Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
    6. Re:I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Elon is pragmatic. He's got nothing to lose being in a position to influence policy that affects what he wants to do.

    7. Re:I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It seems you are experiencing cognitive dissonance. You have been programed to equate Trump with Hitler, but now something happened to conflict with that belief. Now you are struggling to resolve these conflicting feelings. Perhaps Occam's Razor is what you should be considering. Trump may have lots of faults, but maybe, just maybe, he's not Hitler. Maybe he actually has some good ideas and is actively trying to make America great. I don't expect everyone to agree with his methods. I don't, but I do admire the amount of effort he's put into making good on his campaign promises. He could have sat back and did nothing for 4 years. He's done more in 7 days than most presidents have in 8 years.

    8. Re:I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The same one that wont build hyperloops in the US so we can all get home from work in 10 minutes, but will build his own tunnel to get home from work in 10 minutes.

    9. Re:I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Musky deserves his tunnel because he's better than you commoners who aren't billionaires like he is.

    10. Re:I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I see the mere mention of Trump has inflamed another hemorrhoid.

    11. Re:I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I already miss jackie4chan, /pol/blart, jihadi jesus and CIA.

      How ironic this whole mess is: They chant "HE WILL NOT DIVIDE US" while dividing people with opposing opinions to the sidewalk and shrieking their cult chant any time someone attempts to debate them.

    12. Re:I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Musky deserves his tunnel because he's better than you commoners who aren't billionaires like he is.

      No, he deserves it because he's a doer and a maker, while you and others dumping on Musk and Trump are greedy takers, useless eaters, and oxygen thieves who make no meaningful contribution to humanity or society whatsoever while demanding trophies for showing up and being paid for simply having a pulse because mommy told you you're a special snowflake and that your opinion matters.

      Newsflash, you Snowflakes, Trigglypuffs, and SJWs! You're not special and your ignorant opinions don't matter to anyone, apparently including yourselves, or you would take more care in educating yourselves before opening your pie-holes to demonstrate your collective lack of intellect and competency regarding critical thought, logical analysis, and problem-solving.

      Stop thinking with your lizard-brain emotions while wallowing in confirmation-bias echo-chambers and people might even take you seriously after a while.

    13. Re:I feel conflicted about this by unixisc · · Score: 2

      Richard Trumka of the AFLCIO has already embraced Trump, and the unions got their first welcome in the White House in Years: neither Clinton nor Obama ever let them in, let alone the Bushes. If it's okay for the unions to support Trump, why hold it against CEOs?

    14. Re: I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Approval ratings? Let's see how the rust belt votes in 2020. Something tells me Trump gets an even bigger electoral vote victory.

    15. Re:I feel conflicted about this by quax · · Score: 1

      I suggest we all immediately stop breathing and drinking, and spend the next four years chanting anti-Trump mantras at a wall in Queens.

      I'll settle for less: If he finally makes the comb over go out of style I'll count that as a win.

    16. Re: I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, I take all this back, I was wrong, and I apologize for being a moron and drooling idiot.
      -Anonymous Coward

    17. Re: I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow you're a racist piece of shit! Probably beat your wife and fuck your pigs

    18. Re: I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow you're a racist piece of shit! Do you still beat your wife and fuck your pigs?

      TFTFM.

    19. Re: I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Musk got lucky. Millions others could do the same job as he does. There is no doing here. Also there is no appeal to equality. But let's be truthful money and connections make more money.

    20. Re:I feel conflicted about this by turbidostato · · Score: 1

      "On the other hand, having a few people involved like Musk are very sane and wealthy enough that Trump will listen to them"

      It might be the case.

      However, the article states "Musk is betting that job creation is more important to the new President than simply satisfying the oil industry". There has been quite a lot of fanfare about the "Trump's tycoons council" but, nothing abut representatives of the other side, you know, the labour mass. Why is it so? I mean, while job creation is surely important, the quality of that job is also important: USA had a civil war on labour issues, after all.

    21. Re: I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Why the hate? Sure Musk was lucky but more than most can be said to be a self-made millionaire. He bootstrapped his way up from one company to the next and that very first company was started with a mere $28000 from his father https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elon_Musk . Inherited wealth, now that's another story https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QzQYA9Qjsi0

    22. Re:I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      if he can pay for it and it's not problematic to others = you are precisely correct.

    23. Re: I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      oh they already pay for it, 20% increase in tax on Mexican goods. :*

    24. Re: I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, I take all this back, I was wrong, and I apologize for being a moron and drooling idiot.
      -Anonymous Coward

      Nice try snowflake, but only your snowflake-buddies are dumb enough to believe it.

    25. Re: I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You stepped into an irrational libturd, you must be new here. Enything Trump gets a horrible and bloody PMS in libturd camp.

    26. Re:I feel conflicted about this by aNonnyMouseCowered · · Score: 1

      Hey Vlad, is that you?

    27. Re: I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Who will be paying those 20% - I bet it's not Mexicans ? Then by WTO regulations Mexico has the right to tax US goods.

    28. Re: I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Musk did indeed get lucky, but it remains to his credit that he is engaged in pursuits that he believes will benefit the whole human race, and not just his bottom line. Relatively few billionaires develop a social conscience at all, most of them only seem to do it in later life after their billions are established already.

      Betting your billions on an enterprise you're doing primarily because you think it's a good thing? He deserves a certain amount of nerd adulation.

    29. Re: I feel conflicted about this by pslytely+psycho · · Score: 1

      I like being a snowflake, because when we get together we cover all, even the mighty Sahara Desert. We bring massive change to the world and begin the process of Springs rebirth.

      Spring may ebb into summer and fall, then we come back and begin the process anew.

      --
      Donald Trump, on a crusade to make Nixon look respectable
    30. Re: I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I like being a snowflake...

      Maybe some day. But hey, it's good you at least have goals in life Trigglypuff, however low you choose to set the bar.

    31. Re:I feel conflicted about this by reboot246 · · Score: 1

      You really need to keep up. The AFL-CIO leadership has already embraced Trump. The rank and file union members voted for him. Yes, jobs are important to unions. Without jobs, unions are kinda useless.

    32. Re:I feel conflicted about this by DrXym · · Score: 1
      Trump is what Russians would call a "useful idiot". Providing you can stroke his massive ego and indulge his narcissism, you can make him parrot anything you want.

      The best thing Musk could do to stroke his ego is through a transparently obsequious act, e.g. offer to clad out Mar Del Lago or one of his other buildings with solar panels. Trump will suddenly start spouting how wonderful solar and renewables are for creating jobs.

    33. Re: I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's spelled "Anything," not "Enything"

    34. Re:I feel conflicted about this by Barsteward · · Score: 0

      Hitler also put effort into making good on his campaign promises and succeeded. Hitler started out at the beginning pretty much as Trump has, create division and get the gullible to hate others who are not like themselves, the real awful shit came later.

      --
      "The hands that help are better far than lips that pray." - Robert Ingersoll (1833-1899)
    35. Re: I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe he is prepared to take the risk of new technology himself. London's Underground network started off as a novelty alternative to crossing London Bridge. Why walk across a bridge in the freezing cold and rain, with noisy coachmen and the smell of horse dung when you could take a leisurely walk through a heated gas lamp lit tunnel with carpets?

    36. Re: I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They already do! Ever seen the Mexico prices for American goods?!

    37. Re: I feel conflicted about this by invalid_user · · Score: 1

      oh they already pay for it, 20% increase in tax on Mexican goods. :*

      May I know how can a Mexican pay for the tax? I have a few Mexican friends who are very eager to find out. Do they have to cross the border to buy stuffs in America? Is there any other way for them to do so, because they're kinda lazy.

      Oh... you mean "pay for it", as in "I'll make you guy pay for this, just you wait" kind of "pay for it". I see, my bad.

    38. Re:I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hey Vlad, is that you?

      Vladimir Putin or "Vlad the Impaler"?

    39. Re: I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I hope you are joking

    40. Re:I feel conflicted about this by Highdude702 · · Score: 2

      wait trump created division? Im pretty sure he didnt call everybody not voting for him "deplorable"

    41. Re: I feel conflicted about this by Type44Q · · Score: 1

      WTF, what's he supposed to do, marry the pigs and butcher the wife?? You make no sense...

    42. Re:I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I cannot believe it's not butter.

    43. Re:I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm shaving half my head so can get a come over!

    44. Re:I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, he's properly paranoid. Trump needs to hit someone; he gets on these late night tweeting binges looking for people, companies, countries, and entire religions to bash. Musk wants to avoid being on the list, or at least pushing Tesla to the bottom of the stack.

    45. Re:I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      create division and get the gullible to hate others who are not like themselves

      Those stupid, gullible deplorables.

    46. Re:I feel conflicted about this by AutodidactLabrat · · Score: 1

      WARNING!
      Another Putin paid Russian Troll!!!

    47. Re: I feel conflicted about this by AutodidactLabrat · · Score: 1

      WARNING!
      Another Koch paid Russian Troll!!!

    48. Re: I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How is that Arab spring working out for you? Sometimes it takes more than snowflakes to change the conditions... Except maybe a long Russian winter...

    49. Re:I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      On the one hand, Trump is so terribly awful that any sort of support of him is problematic and dangerous. It risks becoming swept up in his complete disregard for facts or decency. On the other hand, having a few people involved like Musk are very sane and wealthy enough that Trump will listen to them (wealth being apparently one of the very few things he cares about), and might be positive moderating influences.

      That's complete bull#$%&, Josh. It's a business decision. Business doesn't care about nor make decisions based on what Snowflakes might think or feel.

      And you think Musk is sane??? Tsk, tsk. You are one naive little drone. Drone on worker bee. Drone on...

    50. Re: I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They will probably "pay" for it with lower exports and lower GNP. However the Mexican government chooses to redistribute that pain to their citizens is of course up to them.

    51. Re:I feel conflicted about this by quax · · Score: 1

      A come over?

      But by all means please proceed.

    52. Re: I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The Koch brothers actively opposed Trump.

    53. Re:I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You sound like a real winner.

    54. Re:I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      musk is a smart man to join

    55. Re:I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      if you wanna size with the fascist, you go ahead.
      the rest of us will be waiting over here, on the side of liberty and freedom, waiting to kick your ass.

    56. Re: I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As long as you're OK with continuing the metaphor and that it will be your liquidation that begins the rebirth process. Kill the snowflakes, for a better world. Has a nice ring, what?

    57. Re: I feel conflicted about this by yuriklastalov · · Score: 1

      Considering the extent to which his opposition is Progressing off the side of a cliff that's a yuuge possibility.

      Watch the Progs take over the Democrat party and nominate someone even more hopelessly idealistic and ineffective than Sanders in 2020. I'm sure doubling down on "You stupid, ignorant, racist, hillbilly white trash bigots just don't know what's good for you" is going to turn out so much better this time around.

    58. Re:I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well seeing as how Trump is now our Dear Leader, you'll probably see his hair style soar in popularity instead.

    59. Re: I feel conflicted about this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sanders has already accomplished much. I suggest you look him up, then revise your notion of what an idealist, or someone ineffective, is.

      Not a fan here, just respecting what people do and accomplish.

    60. Re:I feel conflicted about this by quax · · Score: 1

      True, and this could actually be quite helpful.

    61. Re:I feel conflicted about this by ebvwfbw · · Score: 1

      On the one hand, Trump is so terribly awful that any sort of support of him is problematic and dangerous.

      Might want to take your head out of your ass and look some. Quit saying the sky is falling - chicken little.

      Doing dangerous things, like enforcing the law, protecting the Constitution, things like that. I know, he'll probably want other terrible things, like for you to pay for your own education, your own mortgage, your own food, your own health care (and not the freeloaders) and your own cell phone. Horrors. You know, be an adult. Big switch from the last despot we had in the WH.

    62. Re: I feel conflicted about this by cwsumner · · Score: 1

      Why the hate? Because after losing the election they have nothing left but hate...

      I've been shutting off threads, when they get too bad.

    63. Re:I feel conflicted about this by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      "Musk and Trump"? Trump is primarily known for self-promotion, being a reality show star, big buildings, and stiffing his small contractors. Musk is primarily known for creating an efficient electronic payment system, a much more efficient way of putting stuff into orbit, a company making really good electric cars, and more recently his battery initiatives. I have a sneaking suspicion who's made more significant contributions to humanity.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    64. Re:I feel conflicted about this by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      It seems you are experiencing cognitive dissonance.

      Nope. I'm fine, thank you.

      You have been programed to equate Trump with Hitler,

      Nope. I know enough history to draw my own parallels without somebody having to instill them in me. The big differences are that Hitler was a lot more competent than Trump, and the US is far more resilient than the Weimar Republic.

      now something happened to conflict with that belief

      C'mon, so he got a good adviser. Trump's not competent enough to make sure all his advisers are incompetent lackies.

      just maybe, he's not Hitler.

      Hitler was intelligent and had impulse control. He was also much better at inspiring loyalty in people who were actually competent.

      Maybe he actually has some good ideas

      Considering how many random ideas he has, some are going to be good by pure chance.

      is actively trying to make America great.

      It would be more convincing if he acknowledged what's actually great about the country first, and tried not to mess that up.

      He's done more in 7 days than most presidents have in 8 years.

      Yup, the rate at which he's committing illegal acts is very impressive.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    65. Re:I feel conflicted about this by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      Trump has referred to his "enemies", which apparently include everyone who politically disagrees with him. That's about as divisive as it comes.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
  2. Elon is the greatest CEO in America by DonaId+Trump · · Score: 1, Informative

    We're going to build a YUGE hyperloop from the White House to the Kremlin, and CNN is going to pay for it! It's going to be the best, believe me.

    1. Re:Elon is the greatest CEO in America by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      For your tremendous comment -- believe me, it's fantastic -- I award you one gold-plated internet.

  3. Re: Boycott Tesla NOW by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Fucking American putting America before his tribalism and support of the causes which you support which must be the right ones. How horrible a person he must be.

  4. Phrases by GrahamJ · · Score: 1

    Better the devil you know, keep your enemies closer etc.

    1. Re:Phrases by nadaou · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I think it's more a case of Musk running a number of companies which are extremely vulnerable to the whims of the federal government, especially SpaceX, and he is acting to protect those. As to his personal beliefs and how hard he may have bite his tounge along the way, I've no idea.

      --
      ~.~
      I'm a peripheral visionary.
    2. Re:Phrases by jafac · · Score: 1

      Guess what?

      ALL companies are extremely vulnerable to the whims of the government. Where do you think corporate charters come from? No corporation could exist without the government. Never mind all the nice expensive public infrastructure that almost every corporation uses.

      --

      These are my friends, See how they glisten. See this one shine, how he smiles in the light.
    3. Re:Phrases by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Musk only runs companies that depends on subsidies. He wants to influence Trump so they won't dry up.

    4. Re:Phrases by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Musk only runs companies that depends on subsidies. He wants to influence Trump so they won't dry up.

      This truth is going to hurt a lot of feelings here. Prepare to have your post "Flagged as Inappropriate" and hidden behind the "Load All Comments" button.

    5. Re:Phrases by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      That's not the same as depending on government procurement and/or subsidies though.

      Also, I don't thing roads & bridges disappear with a stroke of the president's pen.

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    6. Re:Phrases by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How could this not be an unproductive burden for someone like Musk. Someone who can think, ask good questions, inspire?

      I'm goona build a wall.

      Okay, what kinda of wall?
      For how far? The whole way?
      What is tunneling technology exactly?
      Why are people leaving Mexico in the first place?
      Does make America great include south and central America? ... ...

    7. Re:Phrases by idji · · Score: 1

      Musk is now in a good position to potentially influence Trump. Don't forget that Trump in his inauguration said "We stand at the birth of a new millennium, ready to unlock the mysteries of space, to free the Earth from the miseries of disease, and to harness the energies, industries and technologies of tomorrow." Sounds like he is throwing a few carrots Musk's (and Zuck's with the diseases) way. They should take and chomp them.

  5. Re:Boycott Tesla NOW by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    So, instead of having someone pretty sane, very intelligent, and has figured out solutions to problems which which have stumped many others, we should isolate Trump and only let the crazies and idiots talk to him?

    He needs all the help he can get. I loathe Trump, but if Elon can get his ear maybe he'll listen to someone with some sense.

    Stop being such an absolutist. You're not making anything better.

  6. Musk is woke as fuck by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    nt

  7. Posts here are gonna be hilarious! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Seeing the heads explode for all the deranged Trump haters who also are Elon fanbois - both very common /. denizens.

    Oh, the hilarity!

    1. Re:Posts here are gonna be hilarious! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nope. Trump Trump Trump is keeping his promise to build a wall and Elong Musky Musk is a delusional masturbator who dreams of becoming richer than god. Trump is down to earth grabbing human females while Musk is living in a martian fantasy land.

    2. Re:Posts here are gonna be hilarious! by quax · · Score: 1

      You must consider fans of Musk to be pretty stupid.

      Anyhow, I am one and I think Trump is a sick joke, but I am quite happy about this piece of news. Pretty sure every Tesla shareholder will feel the same way.

    3. Re:Posts here are gonna be hilarious! by Ecuador · · Score: 1

      Oh, the hilarity!

      What does Mrs. Clinton have to do with this? I thought we were done with her?

      --
      Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent. Polar Scope Align for iOS
    4. Re:Posts here are gonna be hilarious! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Many such cases!

  8. Give us a break by Patent+Lover · · Score: 1

    Tesla employees in the U.S. around 25,000. Target employees about 347,000. Walmart at least 1.4 million. Tesla hiring a few thousand more people sounds super but it's time to get real.

    1. Re:Give us a break by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Homeless people displaced by Elong Musky's dildo factories can't afford to buy electric vibrator cars.

    2. Re:Give us a break by avandesande · · Score: 1
      --
      love is just extroverted narcissism
    3. Re:Give us a break by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Average age of Tesla employee? Yeeeeah.

      Walmart is the Logan's Run of employment. After 30 you go there to work until you die.

  9. I felt a disturbance... by Captain+Ramage · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...it's as if a million progressives' heads exploded.

    1. Re:I felt a disturbance... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Trump will Make Earth Great Again!

      Musk will Make Mars Great Again!

      CAPTCHA: conspire

    2. Re: I felt a disturbance... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, yeah, because the Presidential Fitness Council is so important.

      Wait till Trump decides to steamroll something against all the advise he got, and suddenly it blows up in his hands.

      Of course, I half expect him to try to claim credit for the Superbowl or something equally dumb.

  10. Re: Boycott Tesla NOW by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yeah, clearly working with the duly elected president in order to try to steer policy in the right direction is a very bad move. He obviously should just whine about it for four years and watch as the status quo continues or gets worse. After all, what good could come of having the opportunity to explain to the president why he's wrong, and how the country could benefit from renewable energy and electric vehicles?

    FYI: when you are hoping Trump fails, you are hoping for your own failure. Gee, did you think that you would be unaffected?

  11. Re:Boycott Tesla NOW by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    When I see the word, "DRUMPF", I know another unhinged asshole is on the loose.

  12. What do you expect Musk to do? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    This is a guy who has no problem wielding the power of the presidency against companies that rub him the wrong way. It's a hostage situation, not a negotiation.

    1. Re:What do you expect Musk to do? by mykepredko · · Score: 1

      Exactly right. You might as well as be on the podium with Mr. Trump looking down at everybody else rather than in the pit looking up...

  13. 30,000 jobs at tesla alone?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Holy shit! Tesla alone employs almost as much people as 20% of the entire oil and gas extraction workforce!!!

    https://www.bls.gov/iag/tgs/iag211.htm

    1. Re:30,000 jobs at tesla alone?! by quax · · Score: 1

      And the automation of drilling rigs is accelerating. The job count in all of the extraction industry will go down a lot.

  14. Smart. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. by Bearhouse · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I'm sure Elon's advice will be to keep those subsidies coming!

    5$ Bn. so far....as they say, not bad for Govt. work.

    http://www.latimes.com/busines...

  15. Modest Proposal by PopeRatzo · · Score: 0

    Maybe Elon can offer Trump the opportunity to make America great by being the first passenger on a manned SpaceX mission.

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
    1. Re:Modest Proposal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe Elon can offer Trump the opportunity to make America great by being the first passenger on a manned SpaceX mission.

      Make America great. Make Mars suck.

  16. Re:example by hackwrench · · Score: 1

    No, this is very clearly an example of, "When they go high, we go low."

  17. Re:Inequality by hackwrench · · Score: 2

    Quit complaining about how others are bettering their lives that incidentally make their lives more unequal from others and work on bettering your life and incidentally make your life more inequal from other. That's what this general complaint boils down to. When people focus on equality, the result is that everyone's life is worse off.

  18. Pray Musk doesn't loan the RDF generator to Trump by Shane_Optima · · Score: 0

    You jest, but the parallels between the wall and the hyperloop are not skin-deep. Both are naive measures that are touted as magic bullets that won't cost us a dime / will pay for themselves, but in reality they will have mediocre effects. And they'll both end up costing at least four times more than the initial quote.

    Are we allowed to say this out loud yet? Or has Musk finished upgrading the RDF he has on loan from Jobs' estate?

  19. Re:winning! by hackwrench · · Score: 1

    I knew that I personally wouldn't be experiencing much winning as a result of Trump, but the people opposed to him the most oppose any person winning more than any other person so they put roadblocks in place to prevent it. We are all worse off as a result.

  20. Top Ten Amazing Outcomes of Trump/Musk pairing by SuperKendall · · Score: 5, Funny

    10) Illegal Immigrants now deported by rocket, greatly increases number of tests for rocket landings and speed of deportation.

    9) Trump rides in custom presidential self-driving Model X with steering wheel replaced by custom Twitter console.

    8) Trump hair dryer now completely battery powered and can operate to 1000 degrees.... C.

    7) Any time Republicans disagree with Trump, forced to come over and watch hours of taped footage of Musk unveiling products.

    6) Any time drug dealers are cornered and will not emerge from imposing drug fortress, hours of taped footage of Musk unveiling products is projected through windows and audio tuned to frequency of fortress walls.

    5) Nuclear weapon implosion stage upgraded from high explosives to 100% solar fusion initiation.

    4) Taking after Obamacare mandate, all citizens forced to enter into contract with Solar City.

    3) On a very special season of The Apprentice, final candidates for first U.S. Mars mission are selected. All Democrats and most of Hollywood immediately applies.

    2) All Model 3's now ship with gold interior, including the leather.

    1) Hyperloop runs along the entire top of Mexico wall. Better be able to scale it un under 30 seconds before the next Loop pod comes screaming by!

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:Top Ten Amazing Outcomes of Trump/Musk pairing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > 3) On a very special season of The Apprentice, final candidates for first U.S. Mars mission are selected. All Democrats and most of Hollywood immediately applies.

      I think you meant "are immediately enrolled".

    2. Re:Top Ten Amazing Outcomes of Trump/Musk pairing by stdarg · · Score: 1

      1) Hyperloop runs along the entire top of Mexico wall

      I know you're kidding but that's kind of a cool idea.

  21. Re:Stop, stop! This is too much winning! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    It seemed like a week of abject incompetence, retardation, and national embarrassment..

    But I guess uneducated racists aren't really able to tell the difference between winning, and failing, as long as their racist scam artist panders to their bigotry and retardation...

  22. Hindus or HWNDUs? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    But it's an art project! How else would we see livestreams of Sharia checking out some dude's junk?

  23. Re:Smart. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Right. If your companies depend on billions of taxpayer's money, it's vital to be on good terms with those who decide where taxpayer money goes to.

  24. Re:Smart. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    i'd rather see engineers being paid by government, than feminist government employees. Disclaimer: I am not an 'Merican'.

  25. Re: Stop, stop! This is too much winning! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yes, your stupid sand n1gger obama is a racist and a total piece of shit. I agree.

  26. Trump lacks knowledge, impulsive, but effective by raymorris · · Score: 2

    Probably Trump's biggest weakness is that he lacks knowledge about policy issues. He's a real estate developer, not a policy wonk or career politician. He's also impulsive, saying things without thinking carefully about the consequences, but his lack of information is probably his biggest weakness.

    On the other hand, he's an effective manager who gets big projects done.

    Therefore, we can expect him to do big things - sometimes the wrong things. However, he's shown the ability to (sometimes) listen to experts around him. For example, he's said that while he disagrees with Secretary pf Defense Mattis, he's going to defer to Mattis in those areas because Mattis is an expert in the field. Mattis obliged defense better than Trump does, amd Trump recognizes and respects that fact.

    Given that Trump is in fact president (unfortunately), the best we can hope for is that he gets good advice from people who know a subject well, the advisers tell Trump which projects need to get done, then Trump uses his skills to get those projects completed.

  27. Never happened before... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No, American corporations have never got rich by supporting tyrants, despots, and thoroughly despicable people. America is great and Elon Musk is America's saviour.

  28. Re:Smart. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    i'd rather see engineers being paid by government, than feminist government employees. Disclaimer: I am an asshole.

    Fixed that for you.

  29. Re:Not sure how to respond to Musk worshipers anym by Shane_Optima · · Score: 1

    Yup, yup. -1 Troll, -1 Offtopic for daring to imply that Elon Musk might not be superlatively sane.

  30. Support and pull to normalize? by asjk · · Score: 1

    Yes, cheer for DT to succeed. Disrupt the echo chamber of sycophants with competent people of power and influence that DT can respect and that are visionaries grounded in science such as Musk.

  31. Re:Elong Musky fuck off to Mars! by AutodidactLabrat · · Score: 1

    WARNING!
    Another paid Russian Troll!!!

  32. Two Psychopaths by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    on short-term fame grasping for more money even when it kills other people. Fuck Trump. Fuck Musk.

  33. Re: Elong Musky fuck off to Mars! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It is the fucking tea baggers that hate musk. Go back to getting your head banged against the wall by the kock Bros.

  34. Re: Smart. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Meh... Engineers are useful for more than fucking and nothing.

  35. Re: Stop, stop! This is too much winning! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    faggot

  36. Re: Elong Musky fuck off to Mars! by Shalhav · · Score: 0

    No they don't.

  37. Welfare by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Of course he is. Elon Musk is the poster child for "corporate welfare."

  38. You are so gullible by fyngyrz · · Score: 1

    1) Trump puts 20% tax on Mexican imports
    2) Imports increase in price to account for same
    3) We, the American consumer, pay the increased price
    4) Wall is paid for. By American consumers.

    That is the plan.

    Mexico is not going to pay. We are going to pay.

    --
    I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
  39. #4 by DarthVain · · Score: 1

    4) Taking after Obamacare mandate, all citizens forced to enter into contract with Solar City.

    Crazy, however if you think of all the advantages of a truly distributed electrical generation being a considerable chunk of your total energy matrix, it isn't all that bad of an idea. The redundancy, the backup, the efficiency of close to market generation, about the only two negatives are the amount of capital in the form of loans and incentives, but even energy aside for the amount of local jobs created you could spend you money on a lot of worse things (like a wall). The other would be the amount of maintenance that may be required over the long term with a distributed model, but again that is a lot of local jobs for electricians and installers etc...

    Final thought: That mexico wall by design is going to be facing south in what is probably the most sun filled region of the US... Solar Wall? Again, crazy but... maybe.

    1. Re:#4 by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

      I actually think most households will have solar within say 20 years, and as you said that much distributed power generation is a huge boon for the robustness of the electrical grid...

      Solar Wall is I think a pretty awesome idea. It could even power a bunch of sensor packages to monitor inevitable breaches.

      --
      "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley