Spending hundreds of millions of dollars is apparently a great way to firmly install yourself in the United States federal government and make even more money in the process. Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s takeover of the Trump administration has helped him reap rewards big and small in the short time since the inauguration, and the most recent development shows the returns on his investments aren’t slowing anytime soon.
Public documents show that the State Department is considering signing a contract for a fleet of armored Tesla vehicles. While the paperwork doesn’t define which Tesla models would be included in the purchase, the Cybertruck is the most likely candidate due to its stainless-steel body. Whatever the vehicle, the purchase could pad Tesla’s revenues by up to $400 million. Some of those funds would go to the company responsible for armoring the vehicles, but a significant chunk would head to Tesla.
If it moves forward, the deal would only add to Musk’s pile of government contracts, which include billions of dollars in SpaceX programs and other expenditures. It’s also likely to raise more than a few questions about conflicts of interest, as Musk’s influence in the government is almost certainly tied to the decision. That said, the Trump Administration has so far been very vocal in its disapproval of the limited checks and balances it has experienced, and the U.S. government is controlled by Trump loyalists, so conflict of interest concerns will probably remain unanswered.
[Images: Tesla]
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