Kamala Harris, the former Vice President of the United States, recently expressed her regret over the exclusion of Elon Musk from a significant White House electric vehicle (EV) event held four years ago. Speaking at the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit in Washington, D.C., she reflected on the missed opportunity.
Kamal Harris on the Exclusion of Elon Musk
During her conversation with Alyson Shontell, the Editor-in-Chief of Fortune, Harris stated, “I thought that was a mistake.” She emphasized that Musk likely felt the impact of not being invited, noting, “I have to assume that that was something that hit him hard.”
The 2021 EV Event
The event, which took place in August 2021, included prominent executives from General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis. However, it notably excluded Elon Musk, despite Tesla being a leading manufacturer of electric vehicles.
- Event Date: August 2021
- Participants: General Motors, Ford, Stellantis executives
- Omitted Individual: Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla
Harris acknowledged in her remarks, “I write in the book that I thought it was a big mistake to not invite Elon Musk when we did a big EV event.” She highlighted his role in driving innovation within the industry.
Broader Implications
Harris also asserted that U.S. presidents should prioritize recognizing technological advancements that benefit the nation, regardless of political affiliations. The decision to exclude Musk was interpreted by many as a strategic move to support organized labor, considering that Tesla’s workforce is not unionized.
Musk’s Reaction and Political Shift
Elon Musk publicly shared his disappointment following the event, tweeting, “Yeah, seems odd that Tesla wasn’t invited.” He later characterized the Biden administration as “not the friendliest administration.”
Since then, Musk has shifted his political support, becoming an ally of Donald Trump and contributing nearly $300 million to Republican candidates in the upcoming 2024 election.
