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3h ago

Harris Calls Tesla Snub a 'Big Mistake' in New Critique of Biden White House

She says recognition of American innovation should transcend political loyalties.

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Alyson Shontell, Editor-in-Chief and Chief Content Officer of Fortune, and Former U.S Vice President Kamala Harris speak onstage during the Fortune Most Powerful Women Gala 2025 at Washington National Cathedral on Oct. 14 in Washington, DC.
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Overview

  • Speaking at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit and in her memoir 107 Days, Kamala Harris said excluding Elon Musk from a 2021 White House EV event was a mistake.
  • The August 2021 event featured GM, Ford and Stellantis, a lineup then explained as focusing on the largest United Auto Workers employers, while nonunion Tesla was left out.
  • Musk publicly objected to the omission and later criticized the administration, as reporting also describes officials apologizing to Tesla and arranging follow-up outreach.
  • Harris links the episode to Musk’s political shift, noting he later backed President Donald Trump and contributed roughly $300 million to Republican efforts in 2024.
  • She broadens the critique by saying the administration should have prioritized immediate needs like childcare and paid leave ahead of the infrastructure and CHIPS bills.