Elon Musk has admitted to meeting Donald Trump in Florida on March 3 but said it was not planned and that the former president did not ask him to contribute to his campaign.
Elon Musk Admits Meeting Donald Trump During a Casual Breakfast in Florida
In an interview with Don Lemon that aired on Monday, Elon Musk said he was having breakfast at a friend's place when Donald Trump came by, and "that's it."
While staying at his friend's house, the tech billionaire noted that he was asked if it would be fine if the former president stopped by for breakfast, and he said, "Okay."
Although Musk did not disclose the friend's identity, he asserted that the meeting was not arranged for political or financial purposes. According to Musk, Trump dominated the conversation, but the former president made no significant revelations or requests during their interaction.
"Let's just say he did most of the talking. There was nothing particularly groundbreaking or new... President Trump likes to talk. And so, he talked. I don't recall him saying anything that he hasn't said publicly. And that was it, just a breakfast," Musk said, according to CNBC.
Contrary to speculation that he might endorse or financially back Trump, Musk said he would not loan any money to the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, who is facing hundreds of millions of dollars in legal penalties.
"I'm not paying his legal bills in any way, shape, or form... and he did not ask me for money," the second-richest man in the world noted.
Will Elon Musk Endorse Any Presidential Candidates?
The New York Times first reported the meeting without revealing the subject of the discussion, but Elon Musk later wrote on X that he was "not donating money to either candidate for US President."
When Don Lemon asked him about it, Musk said he had yet to decide who he might endorse among the presidential candidates "in the final stretch." However, he quipped with a laugh, "I'm leaning away from [President Joe] Biden."
Last November, Musk said he did not see himself voting for Biden.
"I think I would not vote for Biden... I am not saying I would vote for Trump but I mean... this is definitely a difficult choice here," Musk said during a 90-minute appearance at the New York Times DealBook Summit, as Deadline reported.
Musk admitted that his issue with Biden stemmed from the White House not including Tesla in an event on electric vehicles that it hosted several months after Biden took office.
The Tesla CEO recalled that Biden even added "insult to injury" by praising General Motors for leading the "electric car revolution."
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