Why Elon Musk wants to merge Tesla and SpaceX before Trump leaves office
Elon Musk confirmed Tesla and SpaceX are exploring a merger that would create a combined company worth about $3.5 trillion, potentially the largest merger in history, with reports indicating a goal to complete it before President Donald Trump leaves office. The merger would cap a decade of Musk consolidating his businesses, following deals like Tesla's 2016 purchase of SolarCity, xAI's absorption of X in 2025, and SpaceX's acquisition of xAI in February 2026. Both companies have formed committees of independent board members to study the proposal, which Musk called "a good idea" but cautioned is uncertain. Musk argues AI will drive both companies' futures, with joint projects like the Terafab chip factory and orbital data centres. A merger could offset Tesla's falling profits with SpaceX's surging revenue, give Musk more voting control, and benefit from a friendlier political climate under Trump, though it faces regulatory and shareholder hurdles.