Trump says he may NOT get Elon Musk's support because they disagree on electric cars in CNBC interview where he backs using Bitcoin and says he would introduce trade tariffs to stop wars

Former President Donald Trump says he may not pick up support from Elon Musk because they have 'opposing views' on electric cars – which Trump continues to trash at his campaign rallies.

Trump was asked whether he would eventually get 'verbal or monetary' support from the multi-billionaire, a week after he met Musk at Mar-a-Lago.

'I don't know,' Trump said in a call-in interview on CNBC's 'Squawk Box. 'I've been friendly with him over the years. I've helped him when I was president,' Trump continued. 

'I helped him. I've liked him. We obviously have opposing views on a minor subject called electric cars. I'm all for electric cars, but you have to have all of the alternatives. Also, you can't just go to electric. I mean, you have a grid system in this country that's obsolete, and a disaster,' he said of the SpaceX and Tesla CEO.

Former President Donald Trump regularly rips electric car technology in his campaign speeches.  He cited 'opposing views on a minor subject called electric cars' as a reason Musk might not back his presidential campaign verbally or with financial contributions

That was just a taste of the criticism Trump often heaps on the technology, railing about insufficient battery range, inconveniences of charging, and difficulties in very cold weather, even as car manufacturers shift more focus on going electric. 

Musk's visit raised the prospect that he would become a major financial backer of Trump, even as he faces steep personal financial pressures. He relied on a lender to post a $91.6 million bond last week after a judgement in the E. Jean Carroll defamation case, and has weeks to come up with $450 million following a judge's order in his New York fraud case.

Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, has major U.S. government contracts

Trump made the comments to CNBC days after meeting with Musk at Mar-a-Lago

Musk has been making critical posts of President Joe Biden on line over U.S. immigration policy, which is central to Trump's campaign.  

'Just to be super clear, I am not donating money to either candidate for US President,' Musk tweeted last week,' Musk wrote after their meeting.

CNBC reported that Trump and advisors want Musk to speak at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. 

Musk's companies have substantial government contracts through SpaceX, and his Tesla brand is greatly impacted by U.S. clean energy subsidies and policies meant to boost charging stations and battery tecnology manufacturing.

Trump also made comments suggesting he dabbles in cryptocurrency trading, after saying it 'seems like a scam' back in 2021 and professing his belief in the U.S. dollar.

'Well, it's taken [on] its own life,' he said in the CNBC interview. 'You know, I do little things sometimes for fun and, you know, make money with it and have fun with it, too.'

'I used to say, I want one currency. I want the dollar. I don't want people leaving the dollar and all that. I feel that way. But I will tell you, it has taken on a life.'

He noted purchasers were using the currency to buy shiny Trump branded sneakers. 

I noticed that so many of them were paid for with this with a new currency ... you know, cryptocurrency and I couldn’t believe the amount.” 

He also signaled he would oppose any kind of a crackdown. 'I have seen there has been a lot of use of that. And I’m not sure that I’d want to take it away at this point,' he said.

Trump also spoke about his plan for 10 per cent tariffs, which have sparked fears it could lead to another jump in inflation.

He mentioned policies that could mitigate the impact, after slapping tariffs on China during his presidency that remain in place. 

'I think taxes could be cut, I think other things could happen to more than adjust that. But I'm a big believer in tariffs,' he said, railing that the U.S. was 'being taken advantage of' by China.