Unwavering and unparalleled, the backing of the billionaire Elon Musk, for the campaign of Donald Trump for the presidency of the United States in 2024, makes him a key figure in U.S. foreign policy making in the years to come. Thanks to Musk’s considerable financial support and tow the line about the desirability of the candidate, the tech mogul has not remained merely helping raise Trump’s profile but more envisioning helping in the operationalization or the functioning of the government.
Musk’s involvement and support
While Trump was running for elections, Musk decided to cast all his weight into the campaign. He spent slightly more than $130 million in support of Trump’s bid for reelection mainly in states such as Pennsylvania and used his social networking site X (formerly Twitter) to promote Trump. Musk’s proactive engagement, which involved holding town halls and making rallies, earned him the title of one of Trump’s closest allies in the campaign. Even more, he took part in a gathering that took place on the electoral night in the company of Trump’s relatives, thus cementing his presence in politics.
Potential role in Trump’s administration
Musk’s alignment with Trump isn’t just about mutual admiration; it’s about policy influence. Trump has proposed giving Musk an official government role focused on reducing federal spending. Musk’s pitch to streamline government efficiency aligns with his tech-driven approach to cut bureaucracy, potentially positioning him as a “Secretary of Cost Cutting” or head of a theoretical “Department of Government Efficiency.” Musk has previously suggested he could save the government up to $2 trillion, pointing to cumbersome regulations as barriers to innovation.
Financial implications for Musk’s companies
Considering Musk’s many business investments which include hedonistic Tesla and SpaceX among other companies, he stands to gain significantly in case a Trump government is sworn in. Tesla has been profiting from government support programs for electric vehicles, while SpaceX has landed billions of dollars worth of contracts with NASA and Department of Defense’s other agencies. Trump has disparaged the green initiatives advocated by Biden that saw advances in the electric vehicle industry. There is however the possibility that Musk will have a say in the way things develop. A more pro-autonomous vehicle position, for example, would permit Musk to scale up Tesla’s ambitions towards a fleet of driverless cars without the need for regulatory approval.
Musk’s broader political influence
Beyond personal business interests, Musk’s political apparatus is growing. His America PAC, which spent over $150 million on Trump’s campaign, now has a vast database of voter contacts. Musk has hinted that this infrastructure will remain active beyond the presidential race, targeting midterm elections and local judicial races to promote candidates aligned with his vision.
Tensions on the horizon?
Even though Musk has so much input in the victory of Trump, there are also chances of conflict hardening. It is typical of both Trump and Musk to be very ambitious and to have domineering personalities which may cause conflict at some point. For instance, Trump has openly attacked Biden for his green energy strategy but his companies have thrived under the very strategy that he is criticizing. In addition, the push for X, Musk’s social media platform, comes in competition with Trump’s Truth Social which may also pose some issues in their relationship.
Lasting political influence
Regardless of whether the relationship between Musk and Trump endures or suffers from cracks, it is a fact that Musk has embedded his footprint in the American political landscape for good. He has built a political organism via his America PAC, which guarantees that his voice will not only be heard but participated in other elections sine qua non, thereby allowing him to promote policies that favor his business interests and personal ideologies. At the moment, Musk finds himself in a dual position of sticking with Trump and cultivating his influence across the political spectrum, which is a degree of political clout that very few billionaires get to wield.
