The United States and China, as well as Elon Musk, are attempting to collaborate
Elon Musk is in a strange situation right now, and if you're as powerful as he is worldwide, you're likely to slip into the same crap.
We know his enterprises rake in billions from the US government, yet the same individual has significant commercial relationships with China, which is designated an enemy country by the US. That alone would not be remarkable because many firms do the same thing.
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The issue arises when the man in question also visits the Pentagon for briefings on China, which is when things become a bit complicated.
Trump freely discussed Elon Musk's links to China. He claimed Musk's links to China render him vulnerable as a businessman. Susceptible is a powerful word to utilize.
Tesla's Gigafactory in Shanghai is the company's largest production facility, and China remains an important market for Tesla's growth.
At the same time, SpaceX has over $22 billion in federal contracts, making it too important for US national security.
We got ourselves a contraction. This dual loyalty is not unlawful, but it will raise questions around Elon Musk. When a businessman has this much access to both American military interests and Chinese markets, the oredicam is nearly guaranteed to raise concerns for both sides, particularly the US government.
Some people, like myself, believe Musk is merely playing both sides for profit, while others believe he is a visionary who handles world politics like a chessboard.
His visit to the Pentagon had further exacerbated the situation. Was he there for classified information? The White House denies he was.
Elon Musk himself shrugged aside these queries, telling reporters, "Why should I tell you?" A answer like that speaks volumes. If he had nothing controversial to conceal, why not simply clarify?
Critics, like Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, believe he should not have been there at all, and I have to agree with the Senator. Her perspective is as simple as this: millionaires should not have this level of power.
Who knows, maybe Elon Musk honestly wants to assist the United States stay ahead, or maybe he's just putting himself in the room where important decisions are made to ensure he's constantly at an advantage. Any way you look at it, his access to power is apparent.