Donald Trump [Archival audio]: Frankly, this was, I imagine, the best political motion of all time. There’s by no means been something like this on this nation, and possibly past.
Leah Feiger: The win was decisive, nearly shockingly so. Many people are nonetheless determining the large issue that pushed the nation onerous to the correct. Right here at WIRED, nonetheless, we’ve a idea, and we have been reporting on him for some time: Elon Musk.
Donald Trump [Archival audio]: Who did you say?
[Archival audio]: Elon.
Donald Trump [Archival audio]: Oh, let me inform you. We’ve a brand new star. A star is born, Elon.
Leah Feiger: That is WIRED Politics Lab, a present about how tech is altering politics. I am Leah Feiger, the senior politics editor at WIRED. As we mentioned on the present a number of weeks in the past, Elon jumped into the political dialog this cycle in a giant means, endorsing Trump, becoming a member of him at rallies, and placing some huge cash behind him, over 100 million {dollars}. Did his affect make the distinction for Trump, and what occurs now? Becoming a member of me at the moment to speak about all of this and extra is WIRED’s director of science, politics, and safety, Tim Marchman. Hey, Tim.
Tim Marchman: Hey, glad to be right here.
Leah Feiger: Glad you are right here too. Additionally becoming a member of, is WIRED senior reporter Vittoria Elliott. Hey, Tori.
Vittoria Elliott: Hey, Leah.
Leah Feiger: Fast check-in guys. How are you each doing?
Vittoria Elliott: I do not know what day it’s.
Tim Marchman: I really want to simply go to the park and skim a Victorian novel, or play shuffleboard or one thing.
Vittoria Elliott: That sounds nice. Truthfully, I want somebody would prescribe me some seaside time, like they used to.
Leah Feiger: As an alternative of seaside time and as a substitute of studying a Victorian novel within the park, we should always simply speak about Elon Musk. Proper? That additionally sounds extremely enjoyable to me.
Tim Marchman: I feel we’ll be speaking about Elon Musk for the subsequent 4 years. I, for one, cannot wait.
Leah Feiger: Let’s get into it. So, the large query to me, and I feel to in all probability all of us, is did Elon Musk make this occur? Is he accountable, or a minimum of fairly accountable, very accountable, largely accountable for this Trump victory? What do you suppose?
