Former Vice President Kamala Harris has called out a significant misstep by her former boss, Joe Biden, regarding a key event for electric vehicle innovation.

According to Fox News, Harris criticized Biden for not inviting Tesla CEO Elon Musk to a 2021 White House summit on electric vehicles, despite Tesla's dominant role in the American market.

Speaking at Fortune's Most Powerful Women Summit in Washington, D.C., Harris labeled the exclusion a "big mistake," a sentiment she also expressed in her memoir, "107 Days."

Snub at the White House Event

In August 2021, Biden hosted leaders from General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis at the White House to discuss EV advancements, but Musk was notably absent. Tesla, the leading EV manufacturer in the nation, was overlooked in favor of companies with strong ties to the United Auto Workers union.

Harris pointed out the flaw in this decision, stating, "Here he is, the major American manufacturer of extraordinary innovation in this space," in reference to Musk's contributions through Tesla and SpaceX. Her words cut to the heart of a policy that seems to prioritize union loyalty over merit and achievement.

It's hard to ignore how this move sidelined a pioneer in an industry the administration claims to champion. Punishing innovation for not fitting a political mold sends a troubling signal to entrepreneurs who dare to challenge the status quo.

Union Politics Over Industry Leadership

The decision to exclude Musk was widely seen as a nod to organized labor, given Tesla's non-unionized workforce. Then-White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki defended the guest list, noting it featured "the three largest employers of the United Auto Workers."

When pressed on whether this was a deliberate jab at Musk's anti-union stance, Psaki dodged with a coy, "I'll let you draw your own conclusion." Her response reeks of calculated ambiguity, leaving little doubt about the administration's intent to play favorites.

This isn't just about one event; it reflects a broader mindset that values political alliances over recognizing those who actually drive progress. If the goal is to advance green technology, sidelining the biggest player in the game hardly seems like a winning strategy.

Musk's Reaction and Aftermath

Musk didn't stay silent after the snub, publicly questioning the oversight with a pointed social media post: "Yeah, seems odd that Tesla wasn’t invited." A month later, he escalated his critique, suggesting the Biden administration was "controlled by unions" and far from friendly to his company.

Administration officials reportedly offered an apology, and Biden aides attempted to mend fences, but the damage was done. Harris herself noted in her book that Musk "never forgave it," hinting at a lasting rift that may have shaped his later political alignments.

It's telling that a single exclusion could alienate someone of Musk's stature, especially when the industry needs all hands on deck. Holding grudges over policy disagreements is one thing, but freezing out a key innovator is a self-inflicted wound.

Lessons on Innovation and Fairness

Harris urged that leaders should "put aside political loyalties" when it comes to recognizing technological breakthroughs, a principle that seems lost on the Biden team's approach. Her reflection that the snub likely "hit him hard and had an impact on his perspective" shows an empathy for Musk's position, even if she doesn't know him personally.

Subsequent events, including Musk's endorsement of Donald Trump in 2024 and his substantial financial support for Republican causes, suggest the fallout from 2021 lingered. While Harris doesn't explicitly connect these dots, the timeline speaks for itself.

This episode serves as a reminder that governance shouldn't be a petty game of who gets a seat at the table. If the aim is to push America forward in critical industries like electric vehicles, then rewarding union ties over raw innovation is a shortsighted path that risks alienating the very minds we need most.