An unexpected relationship blossomed between former president Donald Trump and tech-mogul Elon Musk last year. As Trump geared up for his presidential campaign, the world’s richest man hopped on board, bringing his wealth and influence and a unique perspective to Trump’s political operation. With Musk’s immense social media following of 200 million on X and his $200 million investment in Trump’s campaign, he became an invaluable ally, offering Trump a powerful new edge in his race for a second term.
Musk also leveraged his American super PAC to rally support in key swing states, helping Trump secure a crucial advantage in his campaign. As a successful businessman, Musk helped Trump frame his campaign as one focused on efficiency and innovation. He drew from his experience running companies like Tesla and SpaceX to become a key advisor post-election.
Since the day they decided to team up, Trump and Musk have become nearly inseparable. Musk has joined Trump at nearly every meeting at Mar-a-lago and even a U.F.C. fight together. Trump’s grandchild Kai even posted online that Musk was, “achieving uncle status.” What started as a professional partnership has evolved into a personal bond, with the two spending significant time together, discussing everything from business to politics. Their closeness even had Vice Presidential opponent Tim Walz joking that Musk was Trump’s running mate rather than J.D. Vance.
Trump is known for keeping his allies close, with many of his advisors being long-term friends or loyal confidants who have stood by him through thick and thin. However, he made an interesting exception with Elon Musk. This is due to several reasons, him being the world’s richest man, media influence, and interestingly his ability to say “You’re fired!” (a phrase Trump is deeply fond of) to 80% of X’s staff. Such bold, decisive moves were quick to capture Trump’s attention, and Musk’s unorthodox approach to leadership made him a natural fit in Trump’s inner circle.
As their bond strengthened, Trump recognized Musk’s unique ability to drive change–not just in business, but also in government. It was no surprise that Trump appointed him to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). While DOGE is not a formal federal executive department (as that would require Congressional approval), it is designed to serve as an advisory group to help streamline federal operations and reduce inefficiency. Musk, whose expertise lies in business innovation rather than politics, was given this role based on his track record of transforming companies like Tesla and SpaceX into highly efficient and profitable enterprises.
This powerful alignment of business and politics will be closely watched. The richest man in the world, standing hand-in-hand with the President of the United States, creates an unprecedented dynamic in American politics. As Elon Musk continues to cement his role in Trump’s campaign and political vision, their partnership is poised to redefine the landscape of American leadership. Will Musk be able to maintain his position as Trump’s right-hand man? Only time will tell.
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/22/us/politics/elon-musk-trump.html
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/infinite-scroll/how-elon-musk-rebranded-trump
https://www.vox.com/money/387348/elon-musk-trump-president-billionaire-oligarchy
19 comments:
I think that Donald Trump and Elon Musks relationship is going to have detrimental effects on American government. We've known for a long time that Donald Trump is willing to put into place policy that will protect and benefit the super elite, but by allowing Donald Trump to put Elon Musk in a place in the government, which although not official could still allow him to use his power to benefit himself is unjust. Donald Trump is surrounding himself with people quite like him; impulsive and almost emotional decision makers. I think that overall it is hard to believe that Donald Trump and the people surrounding him won't use the government for their private interest, especially after the appointment of Elon Musk.
I believe that Musk and Trump will remain very close for a very long time. Besides this close kinship, they both have lots to benefit from by establishing this political relationship. Elon Musk will have an "in" with the federal government. Any regulations that his companies may face could be loosened with a simple phone call to Donald Trump. In doing this, he can be more free in doing business (a key aspect amongst conservatives) and earn more money. Hooray to the rich being richer! Donald Trump will also provide the country with more technological advancements and business prospects, which overall looks great for the economy. And as we know, the economy's health was a big factor in this presidential race.
I believe that the partnership between Donald Trump and Elon Musk could redefine business and politics. I suppose Musk firing 80% of X’s staff could be a sign of “efficiency” as maybe X didn’t need that many employees. Trump appointing Musk to co-lead DOGE will certainly lead to interesting changes to improve efficiency. Yet, this brings some concerns. Musk has a strong influence and Trump’s ability to go around traditional processes means that the interest of the elite may overtake more democratic values. It also doesn’t help that Vivek Ramaswamy, another billionaire, is another lead of DOGE. DOGE seems to come from informal methods. That could be a sign that checks and balances were essentially bypassed which brings questions about accountability.
I think the close partnership between Musk and Trump is definitely unique, and seeing how far it has come I'm surprised more red flags haven't been raised regarding these two working together. After hearing and learning about Trump's campaign efforts with Musk, including the whole lottery thing Musk was running in swing states, it's clear to see why these two work so well together. Obviously their relationship offers many benefits for the two of them: Musk now having a role in government, even if it's unofficial, and Trump being able to work closely with one of the richest men in the world. I don't really know the things these two can achieve by working with one another, but I definitely think it's going to change how business and government is perceived, potentially for the worst.
Something I have been thinking about since these two teamed up together is how long this relationship will last. It is pretty well known now that Trump tends to clash with his close advisors and during his presidency, I remember during his last presidency there were constantly cabinet members being fired and replaced. And because Elon Musk and Trump are two such huge personalties in society and they both want the spotlight, that if there is a clash in ideals between the 2 it could really blow out of proportions. I personally believe that Musk will most definitely be out by the time Trump ends his term, through the conflict will probably simmer out. To pivot away slightly I also believe with even more certainty that Musk and Ramaswamy will clash for power and difference and ideas in DOGE within months, and its pretty ironic naming it DOGE and appointing 2 co leads which will make incredibly inefficient.
Both Donald Trump and Elon Musk share a background in business, which influences their approach and values. While some argue that running a government is similar to running a business, I believe the two are fundamentally different. A business mindset and tactics can be effective in politics, but Elon Musk’s lack of political experience makes his sudden prominence on Capitol Hill feel like too much of a leap. I wish someone with actual experience and qualifications would be appointed to such roles, but under the Trump administration, it has been proven from time to time unlikely.
This alliance between Trump and Musk is certainly interesting, given their shared wealth, power, and business backgrounds. While they both have experience in running large-scale operations, their approaches and long-term goals may be fundamentally different, which could make their partnership more fragile than it seems. It’s also curious how Musk, with relatively little political experience, has stepped into such a role in politics. While his business success is undeniable, it’s uncertain how his methods will translate to the political/public sector. I’m curious to see how they will leverage their alliance to benefit each other—and whether Musk’s role in the Department of Government Efficiency will bring about tangible improvements or simply serve as a symbolic move to bolster Trump’s image.
I agree with many other commentators that this relationship is built on greed and self-preservation rather than an actual bond. Following trends of many other relationships built on these values, I don't see their friendship continuing unless they both have something to offer one another. For Trump, he has basically unlimited money and resources supporting him, and Elon gets an unprecedented level of attention and media following, which too him is apparently worth 200 million dollars. Although this relationship is most likely good for the two of them, it has the possibility to be detrimental to the rest of America. Running a business is not the same as running a government agency or being a president, and it has been well displayed that these two try to run an authoritarian/totalitarian model as much as they can. To these two, the interests of the citizens of America are important only for image and rep, and are easily replaceable if they threaten loss of power.
It is interesting that nearly everybody here is fearful of this relationship and thinks it will be "detrimental," yet so far nothing bad has come from this and I see few reasons to jump to this conclusion. Nobody has mentioned the good that can come from a close relationship between the president and the most important individual in American economy. People are forgetting that Elon Musk basically created the entire electric car industry, making his patents open source for other manufacturers, and is leading the development of reusable rockets. If they are so close, Musk's interest in technological advancement that lessens our emissions will certainly influence Trump's policies, which could be very beneficial for the nation.
I read this article and I thought it was funny: "Elon Musk Is Pissing Off Everyone on Trump’s Team" and it reminds me of that Lincoln Project ad that went something like "Elon Musk is running for President and his Vice President Trump is going along with it."
https://newrepublic.com/post/188501/elon-musk-annoying-trump-team
I think that the relationship will fall apart just as many of Trump's other relationships built on power will inevitably fall, because it is not possible to reconcile both of their power-hungry natures against the other and Elon is already hanging out everywhere with Elon, even at his Thanksgiving (sitting closer to Trump than Melania was.) I think it will inevitably fall apart because Trump has gotten what he needs from Elon and I wonder how that will play out.
I also wonder if Musk will eventually try to launch a political career. I also think the Democrats need more "cool" individuals on the left side. Launching rockets has now been embraced by the right, we need to bring back the coolness factor of the left. Just a thought.
I think Elon Musk and Donald Trump have a really interesting relationship considering Musk was actually on Trump's advisory council during his first term, though he resigned after Trump decided to pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement. This time around, I wonder if Musk's views on climate and clean energy could influence Trump's stance on climate change and energy policy: for example, focusing on the economic benefits of clean energy. Also, considering that X has been losing value since Musk took over, I am not optimistic to see what he will do running a governmental agency.
I think that Elon Musk's and Trump's relationship will set the standard or at least push towards a reshaping of how business and government interact. The relationship is mutually beneficial for each other, as they offer the other key opportunities, proving that a government and business relationship can almost be symbiotic if in the right position. Thus I wonder if we will see more of these types of business and government relationships popping up across the news and am interested in what the future entails. However, hopefully the government will recognize the possible damage these relationships can cause and will put regulations on them.
This quick to admire relationship honestly does not surprise me; however when it comes crashing down it will likely be awful. It is clear that the two are engaging in a mutually beneficial relationship; Trump needed money for his campaign and a celebrity endorsement; Elon wants tax cuts and less restrictions for his vehicles which have been banned in other countries (The CyberTruck is so unsafe that it is illegal in European countries due to the materials that mean that in a crash, the other car will crumble/fatal crashes almost GUARENTEED). These men are notorious for extreme personalities and poor personal life choices/track records of harassment; that does not translate well to political relationships, especially ones of this caliber. It will be interesting to see if Musk secures his spot in his outlined role in the Trump Administration; and the extent that the demands of Musk's companies will be etched out in possible policy leeway/lobbying with his now increased influence.
I think the relationship between Musk and Trump is very unsettling as it is hard to predict what they may try to do. From the media unit, we all know how powerful the media, especially social media, is. Musk has influence over his platform X(formerly known as Twitter) with more than 335.7 million users worldwide and more than 106 million in the U.S. He is a perfect ally of Trump as candidates have shifted attention towards social media in recent elections. In Musk's case, not only does he have the influence of the media but he also has his wealth. Seen through his contributions in the super PAC, Musk significantly contributed to Trump's campaign and was able to sway in some swing states. While I can see the point of how businesses and government can interact, the public should be wary of the consequences when they can get out of hand.
I wonder how this relationship will affect economics. Will this relationship cause Elon Musk's creations to skyrocket, or will more people start boycotting the company because of the political views? To what extent do people (especially big businessmen who support people like Elon Musk) care about the politics behind successful companies? He clearly has the ability to influence society through the media and through his businesses. I wonder if America will turn more elitist.
This relationship between Trump and Musk seems like a calculated move to secure swing states, but it raises some serious questions about the intersection of money, influence, and politics. Musk’s wealth and social media reach give Trump a huge advantage, but should one person’s resources have such an outsized impact on a presidential campaign? It’s also concerning how Musk’s business strategies are being repurposed for political gain. While efficiency and innovation sound great, the focus seems to be more about optics and power than addressing the actual needs of the people.
A partnership with the president has clear legal and economic benefits for Musk and his company. Musk's advanced spatial technology could certainly be in Trump's interests for several different reasons. For example, communication of some foreign countries's armed forces with themselves wildly depends on Musk's satellite system which can be cut off by Musk. This can be a particularly powerful tool for the United States, should they want to use it. I predict this partnership will be long-lasting, given both parties involved have a lot to gain from one another and have both proven themselves to be extremely greedy.
It's really unique how Musk has become such a large part of politics despite originating as a businessman. I think his main motivation is that he has a lot to gain from befriending the president, because he will gain influence over policies which could benefit his business. Although their relationship is kind of surprising, I think it makes sense that Trump and Musk would work together, because they both have a lot to gain from working together, with Musk's economic influence and Trump's political power. I think their relationship will last for a long time, even after Trump's second term is over, because their joint powers will be able to create a lot of benefits for each other.
The alliance between Donald Trump and Elon Musk is definitely a very interesting alliance, as the only thing they might have in common is their wealth. Their partnership brings politics and technology together which isn’t the worst combination. What’s very interesting to me is that Musk used his influence on social media and his wealth helped Trump’s campaign and overall helped win the election. Also being Musk helped Trump with his campaign it landed him a powerful position with Trump. DOGE would involve Elon Musk in co-leading the department of the Department of Government. Their growing friendship will definitely have an effect on Trump's politics, and the balance of business and politics is definitely a tough thing to do. My biggest question is how will their relationship change Trump’s policies compared to his last term. Also how suitable is Elon Musk for that position, as he’s mostly a tech and businessman and has never really been involved with politics.
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