The simple answer is  . . . the press lets him. Over and over and over again. Ludicrous claims that ought to trigger the raising of hands – if not questions about his sanity – are stenographed onto laptops and formatted into copy and clicked and sent all over the Internet as imminent, given, factual.

There will be space tourism to Mars by 2022; fleets of electrified long-haul big-rigs that don't have to stop every 20 miles or so for recharge pit stops. A new supercar that doesn't exist – but send me a huge check.

Remember Yul Brynner in The Ten Commandments?

So let it be written, so let it be done. Except pharaoh kept his promises.

Elon promises an electric pick-up truck that will tow 300,000 pounds.

For the record, this is roughly the weight of the statue of liberty.