A producer’s apparent response to Elon Musk’s increasing political power was captured in an unexpected hot mic incident that Fox News broadcast early on Wednesday morning.
The incident happened while host Bret Baier was talking about the wider ramifications of former President Donald Trump’s anticipated victory during a live segment.
An unnamed individual could be heard murmuring, “Oh Lord,” in response to Musk’s name when Baier discussed Musk’s role in determining the future of the Republican Party.
“You know, the question is, what the Republican Party looks like now,” Baier said in his comments, addressing the party’s evolving identity. It’s a working-class party, interracial, and perhaps the way of the future. It’s Elon Musk, after all. Podcasts and Joe Rogan are involved. The comment was not mentioned again during the live show.
Throughout the 2024 election cycle, Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, has been a vocal backer of Trump.
He wore a “Make America Great Again” cap when he spoke at Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in October, and cautioned voters that if Trump lost, this election might be “the last.”
Musk also promoted Trump’s candidacy on X, his social media site.
In a crucial post-election move, Trump has announced that Musk will lead a new panel tasked with auditing the federal government.
Although the committee’s precise duties and authority are yet unknown, Trump has presented it as a component of his initiative to address the “deep state.”
According to reports, the committee would seek to remove long-standing officials who Trump alleges have abused their positions to further covert objectives.
Additionally, Trump has stated his intention to create an independent organization to oversee U.S. intelligence agencies and support policies that target federal whistleblowers, who have hitherto been protected by law. Legal challenges would probably be made to these suggestions.
Musk, one of the biggest contributors to Republican campaigns this election, attended Trump’s watch party on Tuesday night at Mar-a-Lago in Florida.
Tesla’s stock soared after Trump’s predicted victory, potentially boosting Musk’s wealth by $15 billion. According to The Telegraph, Tesla’s pre-market shares increased by about 15% to $289.44, increasing the company’s total capitalization by an estimated $113 billion.
Given that Musk owns 12.8% of Tesla, the market rise might greatly increase his wealth.
During a victory address, Trump hailed Musk as a “genius” and highlighted his technological accomplishments. In reference to Musk’s accomplishments through SpaceX and the Starlink satellite program, which offered internet connectivity in places affected by natural disasters like Hurricane Helene, Trump declared, “We have a new star, a star is born: Elon.”
Trump went on to describe Musk as a “super genius” and “a character,” saying, “He’s an amazing guy.”
The possibility of Trump winning has been well received by analysts and investors, as evidenced by the rise in Wall Street futures as it seemed certain.
According to Saxobank analyst Andrea Tueni, who spoke to AFP, investor confidence in Musk’s tight relationship with Trump is reflected in Tesla’s recent stock increase. Tueni stated that Trump “owes him a lot” and that Tesla’s stock is increasing “because of his special ties with Donald Trump.”
According to the expert, investors should anticipate that Tesla will benefit from this partnership.
Musk further demonstrated his support for Trump by sharing a picture of the two of them together from the Florida watch party on X.
Musk made contributions to Trump’s America PAC, a political action organization that organized $1 million gifts for registered voters in crucial states and raised a sizable amount of money for the campaign.
Musk’s participation in government supervision and his well-publicized endorsement of the previous president have established him as a prominent player in both political and economic circles, especially in light of Trump’s probable return to power.
Musk’s involvement in the next administration suggests a potentially significant partnership between the tech tycoon and the next government, as markets continue to react to the election results.