CEO Backing Harris Shares Advice for Democrats: "Learn to Love Elon Musk Again"
While his support for Harris is clear, he views Elon Musk's connection to Donald Trump as favorable and sees it as a chance for Democrats.
TroibNews 
Elon Musk’s enthusiastic support of President-elect Donald Trump transformed him into a super-villain in the eyes of many Democrats. However, another prominent Silicon Valley CEO who openly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris now believes it's time for Democrats to reassess their stance on the world’s richest man. Aaron Levie, CEO of Box, suggests they should embrace Musk’s influential new role co-leading Trump’s cost-cutting department.
According to Levie, Democrats have built unwarranted animosity toward Musk, which he deems not only a poor political strategy—evidenced by recent election results—but also harmful to the country. "Somehow they built up this animosity with Elon, and I’ve never thought it made any sense,” he remarked on the PMG Tech podcast.
Their discussion explored various thoughts on the current political landscape. Levie acknowledged he was focused on the need to support the incoming Trump administration in areas that could see significant advancements in technology and innovation. He believes that, while evaluating what went wrong for Democrats, it's essential to consider why their messaging and policies haven't resonated.
Focusing on what the Democratic Party needs to embrace, Levie identified pragmatic policy areas that might appeal to the majority. He highlighted the need for safe cities, increased housing, quality education, and a conducive environment for innovation. These issues, he said, have not been effectively addressed by the party in recent years, which he finds unfortunate since a pro-business, high-growth agenda can coexist with social safety nets for those at risk of not participating in that growth.
When discussing potential cooperation with the Trump administration, Levie pointed out that deregulation is a critical area to explore. Musk’s leadership in the new Department of Government Efficiency indicates a concerted effort to address regulatory inefficiencies. He posited that for America to sustain its economic success into the 21st century, the country must streamline regulations that hinder innovation and development.
He cited specific examples related to housing and energy, lamenting that regulatory hurdles often stifle climate technology initiatives, especially in traditionally blue states. "There’s a lot of suffocation of innovation that’s happening in the country," Levie shared, noting the need for a systemic approach to reduce wasteful regulations.
Acknowledging concerns from Democrats about the potential environmental impact of deregulation, Levie stressed the importance of balancing innovation with environmental and social considerations. However, he argued that unnecessary bureaucratic processes can obstruct progress.
Levie affirmed his belief in Musk's capabilities to tackle systemic issues and called for a thoughtful approach in executing changes that could pave the way for innovation. Reflecting on Musk's track record, he expressed confidence that Musk's vision for addressing burdensome regulations could unlock new avenues for growth.
When asked if he encourages skeptical Democrats to give Musk a chance, Levie reiterated that the animosity surrounding Musk was unwarranted. He noted, "It’s not only a bad political strategy, but it’s just bad for the country," advocating instead for an acknowledgment of the positive contributions Musk has made to industries like space exploration and electric vehicles.
Looking to the future, Levie suggested that bridging divisions within the political landscape will require practical solutions that are not overly ideological. He remains hopeful that focus on collective problem-solving can bring people together and drive meaningful progress, emphasizing the need for bipartisan collaboration as the nation moves forward post-election.
For more insights from the interview, listeners can tune into the full conversation on PMG Tech.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
According to Levie, Democrats have built unwarranted animosity toward Musk, which he deems not only a poor political strategy—evidenced by recent election results—but also harmful to the country. "Somehow they built up this animosity with Elon, and I’ve never thought it made any sense,” he remarked on the PMG Tech podcast.
Their discussion explored various thoughts on the current political landscape. Levie acknowledged he was focused on the need to support the incoming Trump administration in areas that could see significant advancements in technology and innovation. He believes that, while evaluating what went wrong for Democrats, it's essential to consider why their messaging and policies haven't resonated.
Focusing on what the Democratic Party needs to embrace, Levie identified pragmatic policy areas that might appeal to the majority. He highlighted the need for safe cities, increased housing, quality education, and a conducive environment for innovation. These issues, he said, have not been effectively addressed by the party in recent years, which he finds unfortunate since a pro-business, high-growth agenda can coexist with social safety nets for those at risk of not participating in that growth.
When discussing potential cooperation with the Trump administration, Levie pointed out that deregulation is a critical area to explore. Musk’s leadership in the new Department of Government Efficiency indicates a concerted effort to address regulatory inefficiencies. He posited that for America to sustain its economic success into the 21st century, the country must streamline regulations that hinder innovation and development.
He cited specific examples related to housing and energy, lamenting that regulatory hurdles often stifle climate technology initiatives, especially in traditionally blue states. "There’s a lot of suffocation of innovation that’s happening in the country," Levie shared, noting the need for a systemic approach to reduce wasteful regulations.
Acknowledging concerns from Democrats about the potential environmental impact of deregulation, Levie stressed the importance of balancing innovation with environmental and social considerations. However, he argued that unnecessary bureaucratic processes can obstruct progress.
Levie affirmed his belief in Musk's capabilities to tackle systemic issues and called for a thoughtful approach in executing changes that could pave the way for innovation. Reflecting on Musk's track record, he expressed confidence that Musk's vision for addressing burdensome regulations could unlock new avenues for growth.
When asked if he encourages skeptical Democrats to give Musk a chance, Levie reiterated that the animosity surrounding Musk was unwarranted. He noted, "It’s not only a bad political strategy, but it’s just bad for the country," advocating instead for an acknowledgment of the positive contributions Musk has made to industries like space exploration and electric vehicles.
Looking to the future, Levie suggested that bridging divisions within the political landscape will require practical solutions that are not overly ideological. He remains hopeful that focus on collective problem-solving can bring people together and drive meaningful progress, emphasizing the need for bipartisan collaboration as the nation moves forward post-election.
For more insights from the interview, listeners can tune into the full conversation on PMG Tech.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
