New Hampshire governor says Musk is too wealthy to be affected by conflicts of interest
Republican New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu is facing harsh criticism after suggesting Elon Musk is too wealthy to be affected by possible conflicts of interest.
Sununu appears on CNN state of the union address On Sunday, he was asked whether Musk had any conflicts of interest as the owner of companies such as SpaceX, which hold billions of dollars worth of government contracts while also heading an outside committee charged with leading cuts in government spending.
“I like the fact that he’s very rich in a way [that] He has escaped the potential financial impact,” Sununu claimed.
Musk, who also leads electric car maker Tesla, spent about $2.5 billion (estimated at about $430 billion) to help Trump win the White House.
“I don’t think he did it for the money,” Sununu added. “He’s doing this for a bigger plan and a bigger vision for America. He doesn’t need dollars.
Sununu’s comments immediately drew a flood of criticism.
In a column for MSNBC, writer and producer Steve Benen wrote: “Let me see if I understand this… Americans should not be unduly worried. The president-elect gives power and influence to a billionaire Republican megadonor, a businessman with an extensive private fortune.
He added: “Why? Because, according to Sununu, … the richest people in the world don’t care too much about making money?
Sununu, who was blasted by Trump for her support of former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley during the Republican primary, called Trump “fucking crazy” at a reception in Washington in 2022.
New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu introduces Republican presidential candidate and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Ha before speaking at a campaign event in Franklin, New Hampshire, January 22, 2024 Nikki Haley.
Behnen argued that Sununu “attempted to defend Trump by describing Americans with whom he disagreed as ‘the enemy within'” and “in response to reports that Trump privately expressed a desire to have a military leader like the one who served Adolf Hitler.” Military generals like the general defended Trump, but failed.”
“Sununu finds himself in the unenviable position of trying to defend the indefensible in support of the man who has spent a year mocking and berating him,” he added.
George Bush White House ethics lawyer Richard Painter wrote on X: “Is this the new normal? Billionaires are too rich to have conflicts of interest. Bulls.
Democratic New Hampshire Rep. David Meuse also lashed out at Sununu via X.
“According to @GovChrisSununu, if you happen to be the richest living organism in the world, your motives are no longer in question – even if you gave $277 million in campaign donations to Trump and other Republican politicians to ensure you A seat at the table,” he said.
Meanwhile, Republican strategist Jeff Timmer wrote that the governor “has learned that once you throw away all honor and integrity by digging holes in relativism, you might as well keep digging.”
