A billionaire whose pro-Donald Trump super PAC is under criminal investigation apparently bought the Republican nominee's rhetoric on an important campaign talking point, according to an admission from Trump reported Monday.
Trump's recent comments on Tesla CEO Elon Musk came as Michigan's secretary of state announced over the weekend that her office was investigating potential data collection violations involving a PAC connected to the billionaire.
The former president dramatically changed course on a key issue, according to the Fortune report, which called the switch a "quid pro quo" to secure Musk's support.
“I am for electric cars," Trump told supporters in Atlanta over the weekend. "I have to because Elon Musk endorsed me very strongly, Elon. So, I have no choice.”
This comment stands in stark contrast to past rants that saw him rave against the vehicles in speeches involving boats and sharks and confusing batteries with solar power.
Trump's remarks during the Georgia rally on Saturday marked a shift in rhetoric that Fortune found concerning.
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"Trump admitted to tempering his strident opposition to electric vehicles in order to gain the endorsement of billionaire Elon Musk," wrote Christiaan Hetzner, who noted Trump is "well known for the transactional nature of his politics."
What exactly Trump meant by "very strongly" remains unclear.
Both men have denied a report in the Wall Street Journal which put the amount Musk would contribute to Trump's campaign at a staggering $45 million a month.
And questions linger about America PAC, which Musk, the world's richest man with a reported worth of about $250 billion, launched on Trump's behalf earlier this year.
The PAC currently faces accusations that it violated election regulations by collecting Americans' personal information on the unfulfilled promise it would help them register to vote.
Mary Massaron, a partner at law firm Plunkett Cooney, told CNBC it was unclear whether the PAC violated state laws but called its tactics "very troubling."
