It took a little over two years, but things are on the right track.
Relations between President Joe Biden and Elon Musk, the world's most influential CEO, are warming up.
For the first time since the president from Democratic Party entered the White House in January 2021, the two men exchanged warm words.
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Given the past tensions between them, the conversation -- on Feb. 15 via Twitter -- suggests that they are ready for a new beginning.
"In building our EV charging network, we have to ensure that as many chargers work for as many drivers as possible," Biden on Feb. 15 posted on Twitter, the platform owned by Musk since last October. "To that end, @elonmusk will open a big part of @Tesla's network up to all drivers."
'Big Deal' And 'Big Difference'
He then added: "That's a big deal, and it'll make a big difference."
Those last words are important: The Democratic president seems to be giving credit to Musk for the possible mass adoption of electric vehicles in the U.S.
As all the experts and consumers say, one of the key obstacles to buying battery-powered vehicles is the lack of infrastructure to recharge the batteries. Consumers want to know that if they buy an EV and want to take a long trip, recharging the battery will be quick and seamless. (The term for this is "range anxiety.")
With Biden publicly affirming this, the opening of Tesla's network of superchargers is a game changer, Biden finally gives Musk the recognition that for two years the Tesla CEO has been awaiting from the president, who has made the broad adoption of EVs a key point on his agenda.
"Thank you," Musk responded. "Tesla is happy to support other EVs via our Supercharger network."
Recognition of the central role of Tesla and its charismatic CEO in the adoption of EVs has also been welcomed in the Tesla community, which more than a year ago had created a petition to urge Biden to recognize their champion.
"Mr. President, you should head down to Texas and have @elonmusk give you a tour of @Tesla's incredible Giga Texas factory," commented Sawyer Merritt, who says he's a Tesla investor. "This single plant will do more than an other in the US in helping the country achieve its long term EV goals."
"HE SAID TESLA," added Billy Markus, the co-creator of meme coin dogecoin, of which Musk is the most powerful influencer.
Two Years of Tensions
Markus refers to the fact that Biden waited more than a year after his inauguration to utter the name Tesla, while the president's environmental policies are in line with the mission that the manufacturer of electric vehicles had set for itself.
Musk did not like the fact that Biden presented General Motors (GM) as the leading clean-vehicle manufacturer, while Tesla is the world leader and the Detroit giant is lagging. The Tesla chief also felt snubbed that he was not invited to events bringing together auto-sector bosses. Nor does he accept that Biden does not celebrate the exploits of his SpaceX company, which has reignited dreams of conquering space.
Biden had repeatedly claimed that GM, under Chief Executive Mary Barra, leads the electric-vehicle revolution in the U.S.
"In the auto industry, Detroit is leading the world in electric vehicles. You know how critical it is?" Biden said in November 2021.
"Mary [Barra], I remember talking to you way back in January about the need for America to lead in electric vehicles. I can remember your dramatic announcement that by 2035, GM would be 100% electric. You changed the whole story, Mary. You did, Mary. You electrified the entire automotive industry. I’m serious. You led, and it matters.”
In 2021, Tesla delivered 1.31 million electric vehicles, compared with less than 40,000 EVs sold by GM.
So it wasn't a surprise that Musk never missed an opportunity to criticize Biden.
"This Administration has done everything it can to sideline & ignore Tesla, even though we have made twice as many EVs as rest of US industry combined," the techno king complained last May.
The same month he attacked Biden personally: "It’s hard to tell what Biden is doing to be totally frank,” Musk said during an interview. "The real president is whoever controls the teleprompter. The path to power is the path to the teleprompter. I do feel like if somebody were to accidentally lean on the teleprompter, it’s going to be like ‘Anchorman.'”
Tesla's chief executive was referring to the 2004 film about a news anchor who would read anything written on the teleprompter even if it ruined his career.
Two months earlier, Musk fact-checked the State of the Union speech in real time.
According to Musk, the snubs by the White House stem from Tesla being anti-union. Biden is a great supporter of unions.
"Yeah, the public has no idea how much Tesla and SpaceX have been attacked/undermined, because we aren’t unionized (yet offer highest pay in industry!) and this administration would rather a company be dead than not unionized," Musk repeated on May 30.
Initial positive signals to mend the relationship had been sent by Biden, who finally the word Tesla publicly in February 2022.
Last June, Biden also refused to criticize Musk when journalists gave him the opportunity. He had preferred to wish him "lots of luck" with his space projects.
