Former President Donald Trump is reportedly considering tech mogul Elon Musk for a significant advisory role if he wins back the White House this November. Insiders revealed to The Wall Street Journal that the Tesla CEO could play a crucial part in shaping policies on economic issues and border security in a potential Trump administration. Musk is also reportedly involved in a major election integrity operation for the upcoming election.
The two high-profile figures, who have met several times and maintain regular communication, discussed ways Musk could offer “formal input” on various topics. This marks another instance of the pair engaging in serious discussions.
Interestingly, Musk, who also owns the social media platform X, has not donated to any presidential campaign this year. Instead, he appears focused on leveraging his extensive network across industries to impact the upcoming election. This includes an effort, alongside billionaire investor Nelson Peltz, to support a “data-driven” project aimed at combating voter fraud—a contentious issue in past elections.
Musk and Peltz have reportedly informed Trump about their campaign to influence U.S. business leaders, urging them to withhold support from Trump’s main rival, Democratic President Joe Biden.
According to The Wall Street Journal:
“Donald Trump and Elon Musk have discussed a possible advisory role for the Tesla leader should the presumptive Republican nominee reclaim the White House, the latest sign that the once-frosty relationship between the two men has thawed.”
The role hasn’t been finalized and might not materialize, sources familiar with the talks said, but the discussions included ways for Musk to have formal input and influence over policies related to border security and the economy, both areas where Musk has become increasingly vocal.
Nelson Peltz has been involved in discussions to fund a “data-driven project to prevent voter fraud,” although no further details were provided. Trump campaign spokesperson Brian Hughes told the Journal that “only Trump will decide what role an individual plays in his presidency.” Meanwhile, the WSJ reported that Musk did not respond to its requests for comment.
A Trump campaign official told The Hill that the former president “will be the only voice of what role an individual plays in his presidency.” The official added, “But it has been widely reported, and is demonstrated in numerous ways, that many of the nation’s important leaders in technology and innovation are concerned with the damage done to their industry by Biden’s failure to handle our economy and his moves to overburden innovators with government bureaucracy and unrelenting regulation.”
Musk and Trump have occasionally interacted in the public sphere, typically around business and politics. Their relationship has seen various phases, with Musk sometimes criticizing Trump’s policies as president, to later collaborating on issues where their interests align, such as space and technology. Musk has also ramped up his criticism of Biden’s handling of border security, expressing concerns over the administration’s policies. Musk’s critique aligns with issues he has raised about government regulations and economic strategies that, in his view, impact national security and economic stability.
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