Musk can be called Trump’s closet ally today, but their relationship hasn’t always been about love. In fact, in the 2016 and 2020 elections, Musk sided with Trump’s political rivals Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden
Republican candidate Donald Trump is all set to “make America great again” (MAGA) after his historic win in the 2024 US presidential elections. While Trump is ready to return to the White House as the 47th United States President, there’s one man whose efforts cannot be overlooked in Trump’s “magnificent victory”. Tesla owner Elon Musk has quite openly endorsed Trump as the President. He has been his greatest ally in the race to grab the USA’s top political position.
“We have a new star, a star is born; Elon,” said Trump while addressing a crowd in Florida. “He’s an amazing guy. We were sitting together tonight. You know, he spent two weeks in Philadelphia, in different parts of Pennsylvania, campaigning,” he added.
Musk too seems quite optimistic about the future after Trump’s victory. “The future is gonna be fantastic,” said Musk in a post on X on November 6.
Musk can be called Trump’s closet ally today, but their relationship hasn’t always been about love. Musk described himself as a “half Democrat, half Republican” in earlier two US presidential elections. Moreover, in the 2016 and 2020 elections, Musk sided with Trump’s political rivals Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden. In 2017, Musk attacked Trump for his stance on environmental and immigration policies.
Change of heart and side by billionaire Musk isn’t a result of ideological bonding with Trump. The seeds of friendship were sown during increasing bitter relations with President Biden. Reportedly, Musk, who was once a supporter of Biden, began criticising him after his company didn’t receive an invitation to the White House’s summit on electric cars in 2021. Subsequently, he called the Democratic Party “the party of division and hate”.
The deteriorating relationship eventually led him to turn his back on Biden and extend an olive branch to Trump.
Trump is once again going to head the world’s superpower, but he isn’t the only winner. His biggest supporter, Elon Musk’s, net worth increased by $20.9 billion following Trump’s win. According to a report by Forbes, the value of Tesla shares up by 12 per cent after Trump got re-elected, resulting in an increase of Musk’s income to $285.6 billion.
Trump’s admiration for Musk doesn’t just end with appreciating his Space X projects, it rather extends to offering him leadership roles in his government. Earlier, while delivering a speech at the New York Economic Club, Trump announced that if he gets re-elected as President, he will establish a government efficiency commission headed by Elon Musk.
“I will create a government efficiency commission tasked with conducting a complete financial and performance audit of the entire federal government,” said Trump.
Musk, who leads several companies but has never headed a government body, was quick to respond to the upcoming opportunity. “I look forward to serving America if the opportunity arises. No pay, no title, no recognition is needed,” said Musk in a post on X.
Now with Trump’s victory, the dream of Musk heading the efficiency commission is likely to turn into reality.
