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One of the largest conflicts of interest involving the U.S. government and Elon Musk falls through at the last second.
400 million dollars
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The U.S. State Department had announced it was about to award a contract of 400 million dollars for the purchase of armored Tesla vehicles, likely Cybertrucks, according to several sources.
Controversial Efforts
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Meanwhile, Elon Musk, owner of Tesla, is leading controversial efforts to reduce government spending with the backing of Donald Trump.
The waste
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Musk defends his involvement in the government by denouncing the waste of public funds, including aid programs.
His Companies
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However, he benefits from many lucrative federal contracts through his companies, notably Tesla and SpaceX, which have significantly contributed to his rise in power.
Federal Contracts
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Musk, who advocates for reducing public spending, does not seem eager to touch the federal contracts benefiting his companies.
Less of a priority?
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Many believe that these expenses are less of a priority than aid programs for the population, such as Medicaid, which Musk wants to cut.
Initial Information
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According to the initial information from the State Department’s purchase forecast document, the contract explicitly mentioned Tesla before being modified after the revelation of Drop Site News.
«Pretty sure»
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Elon Musk reacted on X by stating that he is «pretty sure» that Tesla will not receive 400 million dollars and that «no one» has mentioned anything to him.
Armored and bullet-resistant
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Elon Musk also claims that the Cybertrucks are armored and bullet-resistant, which would justify their use by the government.
The 2019 Fiasco
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However, during their presentation in 2019, a durability test turned into a fiasco when the vehicle’s window shattered upon being hit by a projectile thrown by Tesla’s chief designer.
Tesla and the State Department
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Tesla and the State Department have not yet officially responded to the criticisms surrounding this transaction… which may ultimately not take place.