Billionaire techie Elon Musk today explained why he’s staying on President Donald Trump’s business advisory council, even after Uber CEO Travis Kalanick stepped down due to widespread criticism of the president’s immigration ban.
Before and after Friday’s council meeting with Trump and his aides at the White House, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX provided a commentary on his political activities via Twitter – including the comment that he really doesn’t “want to get into politics.”
The 45-year-old Musk, who is himself an immigrant born in South Africa, disagrees with Trump on issues ranging from immigration to climate change. But he hasn’t taken a hard stance against the president. Instead, Musk argues that it’s better to keep the lines of communication open.
“I understand the perspective of those who object my attending this meeting, but I believe at this time that engaging on critical issues will on balance serve the greater good,” Musk said on the eve of the gathering in a Thursday night tweet.
He made clear that he doesn’t agree with Trump’s immigration ban, which has been temporarily put on hold nationwide, thanks to a federal judge’s ruling in Seattle.
“Advisory councils simply provide advice and attending does not mean that I agree with actions by the Administration,” Musk wrote. “My goals are to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy and help make humanity a multi-planet civilization, a consequence of which will be the creation of hundreds of thousands of jobs and a more inspiring future for all.”
Musk said he and other attendees planned to raise objections to the immigration policy during Friday’s meeting and “offer suggestions for changes.”
After the meeting, attendees said immigration did indeed come up.
“There was obviously concern by different people and explanations, and that issue had to be covered and was covered,” Blackstone Group CEO Stephen Schwarzman, who leads the advisory group, said on Fox Business.
Former General Electric CEO Jack Welch told CNBC “there were several debates” about immigration and women’s issues, and “an enormous discussion” about reducing regulations and creating jobs. Welch said the executives were told that “clarity was coming” on the application of Trump’s immigration order.
Musk filed his own report on the immigration issue via Twitter, starting late Friday and continuing today:
There has already been and there will be progress on this matter
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 4, 2017
@elonmusk I assume the ban? Glad you are doing what you are. I believe in you, keep going.
— Un-1 (@mcun1) February 4, 2017
@mcun1 Yes. Green cards & dual citizens already ok. Work & spousal visas not yet, but hopefully soon. This is separate from judicial action.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 4, 2017
At my request, the agenda for yesterday’s White House meeting went from not mentioning the travel ban to having it be first and foremost
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 4, 2017
@elonmusk What? Now you're sounding like Trump. Was a judge that fixed it.
— Danielle (@DanielleBloeme) February 4, 2017
@DanielleBloeme Yes, for now, but this should be addressed on all fronts: judicial, legislative and executive.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 4, 2017
@elonmusk Obviously you are trying to justify your collaboration with evil but you are badly eroding your reputation w those who admire you
— Marky Mark Twain (@OldManRiver1800) February 4, 2017
@OldManRiver1800 Then so be it. I’d rather do what I believe is right, than do what appears right simply to avoid criticism.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 4, 2017
In addition, I again raised climate. I believe this is doing good, so will remain on council & keep at it. Doing otherwise would be wrong.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 4, 2017
@elonmusk not sure, though, to spend time on politics is the right way. Especially when you stayed away from it by your own choice before.
— Eve Egdmann (@eveegdmann) February 4, 2017
@eveegdmann Really don’t want to get in politics. I just want to help invent and develop technologies that improve lives. Feels so bizarre.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 4, 2017
We’ll have to wait for details on how the immigration policy (and climate policy) might change. Meanwhile, the judicial action continues.
This is an updated version of a report originally published on Feb. 3.
