Elon Musk, the visionary behind SpaceX and Tesla, has made a name for himself by pushing technological boundaries, but his recent shift into overt political advocacy, notably aligning with former President Donald Trump, may be undermining his reputation — and business interests. Musk’s presence at a Trump rally, declaring himself “Dark MAGA,” and using his platform to spread controversial hurricane misinformation against Democrats, has blurred the line between Musk as a tech mogul and as a political figure.
Despite SpaceX’s major win this week with the successful launch and mid-air catch of the world’s largest rocket booster, Musk’s political actions are causing friction. California’s Coastal Commission, citing Musk’s political conduct, blocked SpaceX’s launch expansion at Vandenberg Air Force Base, while SpaceX narrowly avoided a delay of its latest Starship launch due to unresolved Federal Aviation Administration license issues.
Musk’s alliance with Trump is also adding uncertainty to his financial foundation. While he eyes federal contracts for ambitious space missions to the Moon and Mars, his ventures are already feeling the impact of investor skepticism. Musk’s new robotaxi prototype failed to impress Wall Street, slashing Tesla’s valuation by a staggering $68 billion. Analysts now wonder whether Musk’s political ambitions are a costly distraction from his broader vision for Tesla and SpaceX.
