Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump mentioned on Monday that if elected he would think about ending a USD 7,500 tax credit score for electric-vehicle purchases and that he could be open to naming Tesla CEO Elon Musk to a cupboard or advisory position.
“Tax credit and tax incentives aren’t usually an excellent factor,” Trump informed Reuters in an interview after a marketing campaign occasion in York, Pennsylvania, when requested concerning the EV credit score.
Requested if he would think about naming Musk to an advisory position or cupboard job, Trump mentioned he would. “He is a really sensible man. I definitely would, if he would do it, I definitely would. He is a superb man,” Trump mentioned.
Musk final month publicly endorsed Trump within the U.S. presidential race. Tesla didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
If elected, Trump may take steps to reverse Treasury Division guidelines which have made it simpler for automakers to make the most of the USD 7,500 credit score or may ask the U.S. Congress to repeal it totally. Whereas president, Trump sought to repeal the EV tax credit score which was later expanded by President Joe Biden in 2022.
“I am not making any remaining selections on it,” Trump mentioned of the EV tax credit score. “I am an enormous fan of electrical automobiles, however I am a fan of gasoline-propelled automobiles, and in addition hybrids and no matter else occurs to return alongside.”
He added that he would rescind the Biden administration guidelines that can prod automakers to construct extra EVs and plug-in hybrids to satisfy stricter emissions requirements and mentioned he sees a “a lot smaller market” for EVs due to price and battery vary points.
Trump additionally mentioned on Monday he would take steps to discourage exports of automobiles produced by the Detroit Three automakers and others from Mexico for U.S shoppers by imposing new tariffs and would forestall Chinese language automakers from constructing new vegetation in Mexico for U.S. market automobiles. He made comparable threats throughout his presidency.
“When you put tariffs on these automobiles, they’ll make it right here” Trump mentioned. “It is quite simple. It is not difficult. When you inform Mexico, ‘look, you are stealing our automobile trade,’ which they’re doing now.”
However Trump is open to Chinese language and different automakers constructing automobiles in america. “We will give incentives, and if China and different international locations wish to come right here and promote the automobiles, they’ll construct vegetation right here, and they’ll rent our employees,” Trump mentioned. “We’ll make our personal automobiles. I wish to make our personal automobiles.”
Individually, Trump harshly criticized Alphabet’s Google however declined to say if he thought the expertise firm needs to be damaged up after a choose dominated this month that Google was an unlawful monopoly.
“They’re virtually just like the Wild West,” Trump mentioned of Google, with out elaborating on what penalty it ought to face. “They are going to need to pay an amazing worth.”
Trump has beforehand mentioned he would forestall quick video app TikTok from being banned regardless of a regulation accepted in April that units a deadline of Jan. 19, 2025, for Chinese language proprietor ByteDance to divest TikTok’s U.S. property. Requested if he may settle for continued Chinese language possession of TikTok, Trump didn’t immediately reply however mentioned ByteDance would possibly promote.
“It’s totally exhausting to ban one thing like that, since you’re speaking about free speech,” Trump mentioned. “You are speaking about plenty of various things go into that equation, however TikTok has handled me very nicely.”
 purchases if elected. He also mentioned being open to appointing Tesla CEO Elon Musk to a cabinet or advisory role, calling Musk a "very smart guy."){kind=link}