Trump's recent comments on Tesla CEO Elon Musk came as Michigan's secretary of state announced over the weekend that her office was investigating potential data collection violations involving a PAC connected to the billionaire.
The former president dramatically changed course on a key issue, according to the Fortune report, which called the switch a "quid pro quo" to secure Musk's support.
“I am for electric cars," Trump told supporters in Atlanta over the weekend. "I have to because Elon Musk endorsed me very strongly, Elon. So, I have no choice.”
This comment stands in stark contrast to past rants that saw him rave against the vehicles in speeches involving boats and sharks and confusing batteries with solar power.
Trump's remarks during the Georgia rally on Saturday marked a shift in rhetoric that Fortune found concerning.
"Trump admitted to tempering his strident opposition to electric vehicles in order to gain the endorsement of billionaire Elon Musk," wrote Christiaan Hetzner, who noted Trump is "well known for the transactional nature of his politics."
What exactly Trump meant by "very strongly" remains unclear.
Both men have denied a report in the Wall Street Journal which put the amount Musk would contribute to Trump's campaign at a staggering $45 million a month.
And questions linger about America PAC, which Musk, the world's richest man with a reported worth of about $250 billion, launched on Trump's behalf earlier this year.
The PAC currently faces accusations that it violated election regulations by collecting Americans' personal information on the unfulfilled promise it would help them register to vote.
Mary Massaron, a partner at law firm Plunkett Cooney, told CNBC it was unclear whether the PAC violated state laws but called its tactics "very troubling."
To mark the launch of Metaphor: ReFantazio, Sega is going to make someone a real-life noble, but there's a catch—you'll be joining the nobility of an illegitimate nation in the North Sea with only one resident
Free yourself from stick drift with a Hall effect 8Bitdo controller on sale for $40
Metaphor: ReFantazio стала одной из самых популярных игр ATLUS на релизе
Silent Hill 2 players are modding away the fog and freeing the camera to discover hidden detail in the remake
Футболистов Головина и Баринова забрали на допинг-тест после тренировки
Баскетбольный клуб ЦСКА обыграл "Зенит" со счетом 83:77
Купить Песню. Песни на продажу. Купить текст Песни. Продажа песен. Продажа Авторских песен. Музыка для песен. Продажа музыки для песен. Купить музыку для песни.
Дистрибьюция Музыки. Дистрибьюция музыки в России. Площадки дистрибьюции музыки. Сайт дистрибьюции музыки. Яндекс музыка дистрибьюция. Дистрибьюция вк музыка.
