Ask HN: Did Elon move to the right to get gov. funding for a colony on Mars?

Never attribute to genius that which is adequately explained by stupidity. Elon said we'd have self-driving cars and $25,000 EVs by now, look where that got us.

Most of what I've read points to the pandemic plant closure and his child's transgenderism as what sparked the decisive turn to the right. But it's not sufficient to fully explain his deep plunge into conspiracy thinking.

If you add up the social benefits of being one of Pres.-again Trump's BFF's, the financial benefits for Tesla of Trump being less anti-EV, and the probably far-reduced legal and regulatory scrutiny of Elon and his companies' activities - I'd say those vastly outweigh any plausible gov. funding for stuff on Mars.

I've been wondering if Elon doesn't see himself as Heinlein's Man Who Sold The Moon, only that's already taken so Mars.

He got laughed at for not knowing how to smoke a blunt with douche bag Rogan and has been seeking revenge ever since. Low T.

I think years of sleep deprivation have caused brain damage.

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No, Elon Musk saw that the Democrats were advocating tightening regulations on rocket launches and AI, and promoting competition for EVs, which would be bad for his companies. He saw an opportunity to influence the rules for EVs and rocket launches by working with the Trump administration, and he took it. Democrats were once the advocates for EVs who could help him, so he supported them. Now that he no longer needs their help, he has switched sides. Musk is able to see opportunities and take advantage of them, which is why he is the richest man in the world. He now has the money, the loudspeaker (X.com), and the President's ear to make his own rules.