Trump Suggests He Would Give Elon Musk A Cabinet Position In Second Term

 

Republican Presidential Candidate former President Donald Trump takes the stage during a campaign rally at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza on Aug. 17, 2024 in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania

Former President Donald Trump said in an interview with Reuters on Monday he would offer either a Cabinet position or advisory role to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, as the world’s wealthiest man has become an increasingly key political ally for the ex-president.

Key Facts

Trump told Reuters that, if he’s elected, he would turn to Musk for a Cabinet position or advisory role in the White House provided the billionaire “would do it.”

The comments come shortly after Musk interviewed Trump on his platform X, formerly known as Twitter, and Trump praised the vehicles Musk makes, saying that while not everybody should have an electric car, Musk makes a “great product.”

Musk had previously said he favored President Joe Biden in the 2020 election, The Washington Post reported, but he endorsed Trump shortly after the assassination attempt on Trump’s life, saying in a post on X, “I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery.”

Contra

Trump told Reuters Monday he doesn’t see tax credits and incentives as good things generally, but that he isn’t “making any final decisions on” the $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit—which he tried to repeal when he was in office but has since been expanded under Biden. He said he is “a big fan of electric cars, but I'm a fan of gasoline-propelled cars, and also hybrids and whatever else happens to come along.”

Key Background

Earlier this year, Musk—who has become a bigger supporter of Trump in recent weeks—denied that he was in talks with the former president for a White House advisory role, saying in a post on X “there have not been any discussions of a role for me in a potential Trump Presidency.” But, in the pair’s streamed conversation on X last week, Trump signaled his willingness to offer Musk a role in his administration, perhaps as a member of a “government efficiency commission.” Musk raised the idea of creating such a commission that would ensure “taxpayers money…is spent in a good way,” and said it was something he would be “happy to help out on,” prompting Trump to say he would “love” that.

Forbes Valuation

Forbes estimates Musk to have a net worth of $248.6 billion as of 6:30 p.m. Monday, making him the wealthiest person in the world. We estimate Trump to have a net worth of about $4.4 billion.

What To Watch For

Whether Musk responds to Trump’s offer.