Many White House officials believe that Joe Biden missed an opportunity by not making a friend of Elon Musk, according to a report.
While Biden in his Wednesday farewell address warned of the emergence of oligarchs in the United States, some of his aides told CNN that his decisions may contributed to the creation of one.
Musk, who has emerged as one of Donald Trump’s most powerful allies, was previously a Democrat and did not back the now-president-elect until his near-miss assassination attempt in July.
Specifically, the aides pointed to the exclusion of Musk’s electric car company, Tesla, from a 2021 event celebrating EV manufacturers. Encouraging electric vehicle use as an renewable, environmentally friendly form of transportation was one of Biden’s key efforts as a president.
Sources told CNN that Musk was left off the guest list because workers at his company weren’t unionized.
One White House official went so far as to compare Biden snubbing Musk to Barack Obama infamously mocking Trump at the 2011 White House correspondent’s dinner—a moment some have suggested inspired Trump to run for president years later.
CNN noted that Musk wasn’t quick to forget the incident. He tweeted about it at the time, and even brought it up at a Pennsylvania town hall in 2024 while campaigning on Trump’s behalf.
At least on Biden administration official, former Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, did engage substantively with Musk about policy. The two met for over an hour in Austin, Texas, in 2022. But when Musk later invited Walsh to visit him in California, the trip never came to fruition, according to CNN.
One senior White House official criticized the decision to keep Biden from meeting with people, like Musk, who shared different viewpoints from him.
“They made a mistake,” the unnamed source told CNN. “I think they miscalculated.”
The White House did not immediately respond to the Daily Beast’s request for comment on CNN’s report.
Without referring to Musk by name, Biden cautioned against the political influence of the hyper-wealthy in his parting address on Wednesday.
“Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead,” Biden said.
When Trump assumes control of the White House on Monday, he will bring Musk along with him. The world’s richest man, who Trump has named head of the made-up Department of Government Efficiency, will try to make good on his promise to cut needless government spending—and hold the president’s ear.
