[Elon Musk X Trump] Musk Power Changing Democratic Strongholds... The Change of Heart in Poor Immigrant Towns

⑦"SpaceX Leads"... Economic Creation Effects Including Jobs
Trump Wins in Cameron County with Launch Site
First Republican Presidential Candidate to Win Since 2004

On the 19th of last month (local time), just two weeks after the U.S. presidential election concluded, President-elect Donald Trump visited Brownsville, Texas. He was there to observe the SpaceX rocket test launch alongside Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX. Wearing a hat emblazoned with 'Make America Great Again,' Trump smiled as the 'Starship' rocket ascended into the sky.

Brownsville, located in southern Texas, is home to SpaceX's launch facility, Starbase. Since Starbase was established in 2014, the area has transformed from a once insignificant, impoverished immigrant town into a city with a revitalized economy. Musk's presence, who led this change, is evident throughout the city. Along the route to Starbase, busts of Musk and posters featuring his face are prominently displayed.

On the 19th of last month, Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX (photo left), and President-elect Donald Trump were having a conversation at the SpaceX rocket Starship launch site in Brownsville, Texas, USA. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

The New York Times (NYT) recently reported that Elon Musk played a significant role in President-elect Trump's victory in Cameron County, where Brownsville is located. The NYT described how the region's old cultures?Mexican, American, and Tejano (Texans of Mexican descent)?clashed with new elements like space and astronauts, stating, "Musk's presence and the rockets have helped shape and reshape the culture and politics of this county."

Cameron County has traditionally been considered a Democratic stronghold. However, in this election, President-elect Trump won with 53% of the vote. This marked the first time a Republican presidential candidate won the area since former President George W. Bush in 2004. Brownsville, the county's largest city, has a population of 190,000, 95% of whom are Hispanic, and its poverty rate is higher than the regional average.

Analysts largely agree that the influence of Musk, dubbed the 'first buddy' (first friend), was more significant than Trump's own role in securing the victory.

Musk's influence was particularly strong in regional economic development. According to a locally published report, about 3,400 full-time and contract jobs in Cameron County are directly related to SpaceX, with approximately 21,400 more indirectly connected. The establishment of SpaceX has also revitalized the real estate market, with restaurants and shopping centers opening throughout the area. Joey Kiro, a director at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and president of Texas National Bank, stated in a podcast earlier this year, "SpaceX has created jobs in Brownsville, many of which are high-paying, and Brownsville has started to appear on the map."

Last month, during the U.S. presidential election, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla (second from the left in the photo), took a photo with polling station staff after voting at a polling station in Brownsville, Texas. (Photo by Musk X)

The NYT also reported that county residents they interviewed were divided between supporters and critics of Musk, but there was consensus that he created jobs and boosted tourism in the county. Local officials and business leaders expect that as SpaceX continues to attract attention, economic development generating millions of dollars in revenue and tourism will persist.

Musk himself has purchased a three-bedroom home in the area and maintains relationships with local residents. On the day of the U.S. presidential election, he posted a photo taken with polling station workers after voting at a social welfare center in Brownsville. Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera, a professor at George Mason University, said, "Musk has a desire to succeed in Mars exploration and to lead this county, one of the poorest areas in the U.S."

However, some argue that Trump's recent victory is not due to a political shift in the region but rather a one-time phenomenon driven by Musk's influence. Additionally, given Brownsville's location on the border with Mexico, some analysts believe that residents concerned about the rapid increase in immigrants cast their votes for Trump because of his anti-immigration policies.