Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro speaks at a bill signing event at HBCU Cheyney University on August 2, 2024 in Cheney, Pennsylvania, USA.
Bastian bib | Reuters
PHILIPSBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro confirmed to NBC News on Wednesday that he spoke with tech mogul Elon Musk on Sunday but said politics never came up question.
nbc news report Musk called Shapiro on Tuesday while in Pittsburgh watching the Pittsburgh Steelers play the Dallas Cowboys over the weekend. The two men were connected by Thomas Tull, a Hollywood producer-turned-investor, with Musk sitting in his box.
“Thomas attended the Steelers game with Elon and called me to ask about some of Elon Musk’s ideas for investment, job creation and economic opportunity in Pennsylvania, and I was excited to hear that. ,” Shapiro said after an event at the center. County promotes Pennsylvania State Parks.
Musk, trump supporters who is Pour money into pro-Trump super PAC He founded an organization called American Political Action Committee, which is on the opposite side of the political spectrum from Shapiro. Shortlist of partners.
Shapiro acknowledged political differences between him and Musk, saying on a conference call on Sunday that “we obviously didn’t talk about politics.”
“We’re focused on what I try to do every day, which is bring jobs, economic opportunity and growth to Pennsylvania. I want to see more investment, especially in southwestern Pennsylvania,” he added.
Pressed on whether he had any concerns about Musk’s history anti-union commentsShapiro said he believes “the union way of life is critical. They helped build our middle class and strengthen Pennsylvania, so I will continue to stand with our unions.”
In August, after Trump and Musk had a two-hour public conversation on X, the United Auto Workers Federal labor charges filed against two men They posted comments on the platform about firing workers who threatened to strike.
The National Labor Relations Board has also twice found Tesla violating labor laws, once in 2018 when Musk questioned in a tweet Why Tesla workers want to pay union dues Another time was in 2021, when the company fired a union activist.
The call between Musk and Shapiro comes less than 30 days before Election Day, as both presidential campaigns ramp up efforts in the battleground state of Pennsylvania that could be critical to either candidate’s path to victory. Musk himself will be campaigning in the state on Trump’s behalf, a fact that Trump emphasized at a rally in Scranton, Pa., on Wednesday, calling Musk “awesome.”
“He’s going to do a lot of things. He’s going to be involved,” Trump told supporters. “You know, Elon Musk, he’s running in Pennsylvania right now because he feels it so strongly.”
Shapiro has been on a statewide speaking tour for Harris, and Musk has also attended Rally with Trump in Butler over the weekendThe city north of Pittsburgh was the site of an assassination attempt on Trump on July 13.
Musk, the CEO of Tesla and owner of X and SpaceX, has had ties to the state since he attended the University of Pennsylvania. He officially endorsed Trump after the Butler shooting.
Trump told supporters in Scranton on Wednesday that Musk “is kind of a reclusive guy. He’s unbelievable. He’s a total genius.” “We have to take care of our talent.”
