Republican Governor Chris Sununu criticized the notion that Elon Musk’s contracts with the government could represent a conflict of interest regarding his position in the White House, asserting that Musk’s immense wealth makes him immune to corruption.
During an appearance with Dana Bash on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday, the governor of New Hampshire dismissed the worries that Musk’s financial interactions with the government could affect his new responsibilities as co-leader of the Department of Government Efficiency.
“As much as people claim, ‘Well, Elon is a billionaire outsider,’ I actually have no issue with billionaires,” Sununu remarked.
“I appreciate successful individuals. What does it matter whether they’re a billionaire or in debt? I prefer someone who has achieved success. Plus, I appreciate that he’s an outsider, an engineer, rather than a typical politician.”
Bash pointed out, “He’s not exactly a true outsider. In fact, one of the criticisms is that he has billions invested in government contracts. Are you not concerned about a potential conflict of interest?”
“Everyone faces some degree of conflict of interest,” Sununu countered.
“But that’s quite significant,” Bash replied.
The Republican, who chose not to seek reelection this year, then suggested that Musk “isn’t motivated by money” given that he is already the wealthiest individual in the world, which somehow makes him more trustworthy than a less affluent political figure.
“As of today, the guy’s worth 450 billion dollars. So, I doubt he’s driven by financial gain. He’s focused on a larger vision for America. He really doesn’t need the money, so it’s not about ‘If I engage in this, I’ll secure another small contract.’ That’s trivial for him,” he explained.
“I appreciate that, in a sense, he’s so wealthy that he’s distanced from possible financial influence.”
Sununu, who is nearing the end of his term as New Hampshire governor, was somewhat optimistic in his appraisal of Musk’s wealth: Forbes indicates that the South African-born Tesla CEO’s net worth is actually $436 billion as of the Sunday morning when the interview occurred.
Sununu’s remarks faced backlash online, including comments from Eric Columbus, a former appointee to the Department of Justice during the Obama administration. “The world’s wealthiest man achieved that by being indifferent to money. I’m extremely clever; let me appear on television,” he jested.
Since Musk has engaged with Trump’s circle, detractors have raised concerns that his significant reliance on government contracts for SpaceX and tax incentives for Tesla might allow him to manipulate the federal government in his favor.
