Conflict Of Interest: Musk’s Tesla In A $400 Million Deal With State Dept?

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal has called on U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to address concerns about a reported $400 million plan to purchase armored Tesla Cybertrucks for transporting diplomats. The irony is that under the Trump regime, anything related to climate change is under attack.

In a letter dated March 3, Blumenthal, the top Democrat on a Senate investigations subcommittee, questioned whether the Trump administration had altered records to make it appear that the contract originated under President Biden. “The question has been raised whether, after significant public blowback, the Trump Administration created and backdated government documents,” Blumenthal wrote, according to Reuters.

The State Department stated on March 3 that the plan was developed during the Biden administration but was later canceled by Trump officials. However, Blumenthal disputed that account, citing concerns over potential conflicts of interest involving Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

Musk, a close adviser to Trump, has been linked to broader efforts to shrink the federal government and cut government contracts. “The Trump administration not only recognizes the tremendous conflicts of interest inherent in Mr. Musk’s dual roles, but is also taking active steps to hide the fact that it is ensuring that Mr. Musk’s position is benefiting his companies,” Blumenthal wrote, Reuters reported.

The senator also raised concerns about Musk’s business dealings beyond Tesla, including the possibility of Starlink, a division of Musk’s SpaceX, securing a $2.4 billion telecommunications contract from the Federal Aviation Administration instead of Verizon.