Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump sat down with Tesla CEO Elon Musk for an online interview on the X platform. Real-time data showed over 1.3 million people tuned in for the approximately 45-minute conversation. The two exchanged political views on climate and energy policy, but their comments on climate change drew criticism. Veteran climate activist and 350.org co-founder Bill McKibben called it the dumbest climate conversation ever.
Electric Vehicle Dialogue Highlights
Musk expressed his support for Trump after the assassination attempt on his father in July. This prompted Trump, who had previously been skeptical of electric vehicles (EVs), to say at a campaign rally, "I support electric vehicles. I have to support them because Elon (Musk) strongly supports me, so I have no choice."
This time, Trump also admitted during the live broadcast that Tesla produces "a great product", but "this does not mean that everyone should own an electric car, but these are small details, your product is great." Trump also did not forget to remind that the production of electric vehicles also requires fossil fuels.
Democrats offer tax credits of up to $7,500 for people who buy electric vehicles, and Tesla is one of the automakers that will benefit.
However, Trump has repeatedly questioned the Green Energy Act's excessive subsidies for electric vehicles, solar photovoltaics, and other renewable energy generation equipment during his campaign, stating that they are a serious waste of U.S. tax revenue and that he will repeal them once he takes office. However, during yesterday's conversation, Trump did not address the tax credit issue.
Trump also denied the issue of climate change, claiming that rising sea levels would only create more opportunities for the real estate industry. "You'll have more waterfront properties... The biggest threat is not global warming. In the next 400 years, the sea level will rise by 1/8 inch (about 0.3 cm)." He believes that "nuclear warming" and the threat of nuclear war are more direct dangers than climate change.
Editor's Note: As sea levels rise, coastlines shrink. Scientists predict that global average sea levels will rise by 0.17 inches (5-6 centimeters) in 2023 alone, more than double the 1993 level. The World Climate Research Program (WCRP) projects that sea levels could rise by as much as 10 meters by 2300.
Energy Dialogue Highlights
On the issue of energy, Trump defended his long-standing support for traditional energy sources such as oil and natural gas, arguing that the current level of greenhouse gas emissions can continue for decades.
Musk partially agreed with Trump's statement, saying there's no need to immediately abandon fossil fuels because "it's not a house fire." He added that a balanced transition to sustainable energy should be pursued without disparaging the oil and gas industry. However, "Oil and gas will eventually run out. They won't last forever, and they're not infinite. In the long term, sustainable energy is what we need to strive for."
Musk doesn't believe that environmental concerns require sacrificing quality. "People can still eat steak and drive gasoline cars, but we should generally gravitate toward sustainable development," he said. He further stated that compared to the annual deaths and injuries caused by the mining industry, nuclear energy is safer.
Trump also expressed his concern about the huge amount of electricity consumed by artificial intelligence data centers. "AI requires twice as much electricity as the current energy source in the United States. It is shocking to me. It is unbelievable."
This article is reprinted with permission from ESG Today. The original title is "Musk's Interview with Trump: Topics Revolving Around Electric Vehicles, Energy, and Climate Change! What Did They Discuss, and Why Is It Being Criticized as the Dumbest Climate Conversation?" It is not licensed under the Creative Commons License.
Sources: Environmental Information Center
