Gavin Newsom took on a foreboding tone as he spoke about the “concerning” relationship between presidential nominee Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Just a day after Musk sparked concern with his vow to give out $1 million every day to a lucky supporter of his pro-Trump America PAC, Newsom shared his belief that something fishy was going on “behind the scenes” with the powerful duo.
“It’s what we know and what we don’t know. We do know he has contributed at least $75 million to the Trump campaign. We know he’s out there campaigning for him,” Newsom said on MSNBC’s Inside with Jen Psaki.
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“I have known Elon for over 20, 25 years. One of America’s great entrepreneurs and innovators, but this is not the person I knew even two years ago. And with respect to Elon, I just don’t have the confidence that there’s other things that he’s not up to behind the scenes – not just what he is expressing quite publicly."
The governor of California then gave his bleak prediction about what the Trump-Musk partnership could mean in wider terms.
“I’m very concerned about our country, where people like Elon Musk and others that are sucking up to Donald Trump, will undoubtedly be carved out of regulations, undoubtedly get massive, even larger federal contracts,” he said.
“I mean, it is an American oligarchy that can be formed here. It’s getting very, very serious. I hope people are paying attention to what is going on and those that are sucking up to Donald Trump right now.
“And unfortunately, seeing this from Elon Musk breaks my heart a little bit, again, as someone who really admires his entrepreneurial and innovative tendencies, and we are all beneficiaries from that as it relates to vehicles and issues related to the work he has done in space...” Newsom noted.
Despite his praise of some of Musk’s qualities, the politician ended the segment with a suggestion that even beyond the SpaceX founder, other powerful figures might be getting too close to the political world.
“I am increasingly concerned about those kinds of relationships. Not just his; many others that are supporting his campaign.”
