How does the war between Donald Trump and Elon Musk affect Hollywood?

From the political climate toward digital platforms to the potential for the US president to turn his back on tech giants, the confrontation between Donald Trump and Elon Musk could have far-reaching implications for the entertainment industry.

On June 6, The Hollywood Reporter published an article stating that if we had to describe the confrontation between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, we could compare it to... a typical Hollywood scenario. One is the president with supreme power, the other is the richest technology billionaire on the planet, and both are engaged in an all-out war over the direction of the world's future.

If someone brought this idea to a studio boardroom, they would either get the green light immediately, or be laughed off as too unrealistic. Either way, the excitement for this scenario would be at its peak.

But behind the entertainment facade, this war also has very real consequences for Hollywood. Here are some potential scenarios for the entertainment industry in the face of Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

Donald Trump and Elon Musk are two of the most powerful people in the world.

Photo: Reuters

Donald Trump may turn his back on major entertainment technology corporations

Since his re-election, Donald Trump has been relatively soft on the big tech companies in Silicon Valley - the names that dominate digital content and entertainment, causing many Republicans to support or at least not dare to speak out against them.

But that's starting to change. Figures like Sen. Josh Hawley and others have raised questions about YouTube's responsibility, AI training, social media platforms, and their content policies.

Now that Elon Musk - the closest ally of the tech giants - has publicly clashed with Donald Trump, it is likely that the US president will have more reasons to turn his back on big tech corporations such as Google, Apple, Meta, Amazon...

Limiting the Power of FCC Chairman Brendan Carr

One of the figures causing the most difficulties for major media companies in the US is Brendan Carr, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), who has continuously called for the investigation of "big guys" such as Comcast, Disney, and recently intervened in the Paramount - Skydance merger.

Brendan Carr is a close ally of Elon Musk. He has visited SpaceX headquarters to take selfies with Elon Musk and has publicly supported the billionaire, especially in the dispute with the FCC over subsidies for the Starlink project.

Now that Elon Musk is no longer close to Donald Trump, Brendan Carr will have to balance political interests with personal relationships. However, this could leave him marginalized if he loses a powerful backer.

Tesla electric cars gradually regain sympathy in the entertainment industry

Previously, many Hollywood artists boycotted Tesla because they disagreed with the statements and political stance of Elon Musk - who was then considered close to Donald Trump and the conservative faction.

In the eyes of artists who lean liberal and support the Democratic Party, using Elon Musk's products can be seen as "standing on the opposition side". However, now that Elon Musk has publicly clashed with Donald Trump and is no longer considered a political ally, keeping Tesla electric cars is somewhat "easier".

Artists can now continue to drive Cybertrucks or Model Xs without worrying about being labeled as Donald Trump supporters—at least for now.

Urge US President to Regulate AI Companies That Are 'Swallowing' Content

It’s a complicated issue. Donald Trump is expected to unveil a plan to regulate AI in July. So far, he has shown little willingness to regulate the field. On the contrary, a major spending bill under discussion, which is at the heart of his feud with Elon Musk, includes a provision that would ban states from interfering with AI for 10 years. That would be a huge gift to Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI (the company that developed ChatGPT), Google, and other tech giants.

Hollywood "shaken" by the war of words between Donald Trump and Elon Musk

Photo: Reuters

There are signs of a reversal, however. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene is leading a push to return control to the states. The Senate has also amended the provision, from an outright ban to now only stop broadband subsidies if states implement their own regulations.

Could Trump use his feud with Elon Musk, head of AI Grok, to turn his support for AI regulation? Maybe. But the irony is that Elon Musk is also at odds with Sam Altman, who doesn't want any regulation.

So, following the logic of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend," the war with Elon Musk could make Donald Trump closer to Sam Altman and less willing to regulate AI - leaving AI models to roam freely in music and cinema.

Like every event involving Elon Musk and Donald Trump, these political moves are not only entertaining but also have had tangible aftershocks for Hollywood.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cuoc-chien-giua-donald-trump-va-elon-musk-tac-dong-the-nao-den-hollywood-185250607150120909.htm