Elon Musk's Next Political Gambit: Advising Trump?

Elon Musk has long sought to amass political clout that matches his immense wealth. Over the past year, he has publicly commented on global conflicts, met with world leaders and U.S. senators to discuss artificial intelligence and space technologies, and even courted senior Chinese officials on their home turf.

Now, according to a Wall Street Journal report, Musk may be exploring a new political venture: becoming an adviser to Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president.

Musk has reportedly discussed the possibility of advising Trump if he wins the 2024 election. The Journal cites unnamed sources claiming Musk called Trump directly to explore a role that could significantly influence U.S. policies. It's unclear who initiated these conversations.

Neither Musk nor the Trump campaign responded to CNN’s requests for comment. However, Brian Hughes, a Trump campaign spokesperson, told the Journal, “President Trump will be the only voice of what role an individual plays in his presidency.”

In response to the Journal’s report, Musk denied any discussions about a role in a potential Trump presidency, stating on X (formerly Twitter), “There have not been any discussions of a role for me in a potential Trump Presidency.”

Despite this denial, a potential role in a future Trump administration could expand upon Musk’s involvement in the previous Trump administration, where he served on two business advisory councils before resigning over Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement.

Should Trump win reelection, the opportunity to advise him could give Musk—who has increasingly embraced conservative rhetoric—even more power on the global stage. Musk’s political views have increasingly aligned with Trump’s, particularly his support for right-wing causes and opposition to COVID-19 lockdowns and vaccines.

Musk has used X to elevate conservative voices, pushed conspiracy theories about immigration, and railed against progressive causes, which he terms the “woke mind virus.” He has called for Republican victories, warning of “doom” if a “red wave” does not materialize in elections.

A formal alliance with Trump would signify the peak of Musk’s quest for political influence and could benefit his business empire, which heavily relies on government support. Musk’s companies, such as SpaceX and Tesla, receive direct government contracts and federal subsidies, their success often tied to U.S. policies on energy, electric vehicles, and the economy.

Having direct access to a potential President Trump would be a blatant conflict of interest, said Darrell West, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. Historically, presidents have sought advice from CEOs and appointed business leaders to official roles requiring blind trusts. Musk’s potential arrangement with Trump, however, could create unchecked influence and lack transparency.

Furthermore, Musk and his companies are currently under multiple federal investigations, including by the SEC, FTC, NHTSA, and the DOJ. Any perception of Trump intervening in these investigations could damage the rule of law, West warned.

Musk’s management of X reflects his political shift to the right. After acquiring Twitter in 2022, one of his first moves was reinstating Trump’s account, which had been suspended following the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Musk has criticized President Biden and used X to promote right-leaning candidates, such as hosting the presidential campaign launch for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and a discussion with third-party hopeful Robert Kennedy Jr.

Musk has also amplified fringe conspiracy theories, including those about Paul Pelosi’s attack, the “Pizzagate” theory, and antisemitic conspiracies. His changes to X, including reinstating suspended accounts and allowing users to purchase verification checkmarks, have fostered a more right-leaning platform culture.

These shifts have led to increased normalization of hate and misinformation, according to Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH). Last year, X sued CCDH for allegedly trying to drive away advertisers by criticizing the platform’s response to hateful content. The case was dismissed, with a federal judge criticizing X for attempting to silence the group through litigation.

Despite the perceived hostility of X towards the Biden campaign, they continue to use the platform. However, Biden-Harris 2024 spokesperson James Singer criticized the idea of Musk and Trump collaborating, stating, “Trump is selling out America to pay his legal bills and put himself in power, while billionaires like Elon see a sucker: They know if they cut him campaign checks, he’ll cut their taxes while he cuts Social Security and other benefits for the middle class.”