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X shuts down Brazil operations

• Elon Musk has publicly endorsed Donald Trump, despite his employees' preference for Kamala Harris.
• Employees at Tesla, SpaceX, and X have donated more to Harris' campaign than Trump's.
• Musk, who previously backed Joe Biden, has shifted his political alignment towards the right.
• This situation reflects the complex interplay between personal beliefs, corporate culture, and political affiliations.

In a surprising turn of events, billionaire Elon Musk, the world's richest man, has publicly endorsed former President Donald Trump in the race for the White House. This endorsement comes despite the fact that employees at Musk's conglomerate of companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, and the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, have shown a significant preference for Trump's Democratic rival, Kamala Harris, in terms of campaign contributions.

According to OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan nonprofit that tracks U.S. campaign contributions and lobbying data, employees at Tesla have contributed $42,824 to Harris' presidential campaign, compared to $24,840 to Trump's campaign. This disparity in campaign contributions is even more pronounced at Musk's other companies. At SpaceX, employees have donated $34,526 to Harris, compared to a mere $7,652 to Trump.

Meanwhile, at X, employees have donated $13,213 to Harris, versus less than $500 to Trump. These figures, while relatively small in the grand scheme of campaign fundraising, reveal a political leaning among Musk's employees that starkly contrasts with his own.

Musk's Political Shift and Trump's Response

Musk, who has previously backed President Joe Biden in 2020, has since shifted his political alignment more towards the right. Trump has reciprocated this endorsement, stating that if he wins the upcoming Nov. 5 election, he will appoint Musk to lead a government efficiency commission.

The data from OpenSecrets includes donations from company employees, owners, and their immediate family members. It's important to note that campaign finance laws prohibit companies themselves from donating to federal campaigns. This means that these contributions are a reflection of the individual political leanings of Musk's employees, rather than a corporate endorsement.

A significant number of Musk's employees are based in California, a state known for its Democratic leanings. Ross Gerber, CEO of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management, a Tesla shareholder and an investor in X, attributes this to the state's political climate.

Musk's Frustration with California and Historical Precedents

However, Musk has expressed dissatisfaction with California's policies, specifically a gender-identity law, which he cited as the last straw prompting him to consider moving the headquarters of X and SpaceX to Texas. This move, according to Gerber, could result in losing out on a lot of potential talent in California. However, it also signals Musk's growing frustration with what he perceives as left-leaning policies, which he has dismissed as a woke-mind virus.

This situation is reminiscent of historical instances where business leaders' political leanings have diverged from those of their employees. For example, in the 2012 U.S. presidential election, the Koch brothers, known for their support of conservative causes, found themselves at odds with many of their employees who supported Barack Obama.