Expanding Influence of Musk in Trump’s Transition Causes Discontent
As Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, rises as a close confidant to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, concerns are growing among existing close aides about his pervasive influence in the transition process.
According to NBC News on the 13th (local time), some of Trump’s aides feel that “Musk’s actions have reached a dangerous level.” They note that Musk is frequently intruding upon the territory of the transition team’s operations.
An anonymous aide mentioned, “Musk behaves as though he is a ‘co-president,’ expecting to be treated as such.”
Recently, Trump appointed Musk as the head of the “Government Efficiency Department” in the next administration, acknowledging him as a ‘key contributor’ to the election victory. However, Musk reportedly insists on voicing his opinions on all issues outside of his designated responsibilities.
One aide commented that “Musk desires to have input on every matter and wants to be acknowledged as someone knowledgeable on all issues.”
Some aides are suspicious that Musk aims to implement his own plans in the next administration, rather than focusing on Trump’s campaign promises.
Nevertheless, Trump’s trust in Musk is said to be unwavering. At a meeting with Republican members of the House in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, Trump reportedly praised Musk, appreciating his campaign support without expecting any rewards.
Since the election, Musk is known to have spent more time at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence than his own in Austin, Texas, and has become close to Trump’s family. Trump’s granddaughter, Kai Trump, even posted a photo on her social media account with the caption “Uncle Elon.”
However, there are also predictions that the relationship between Trump and Musk will ultimately reach a breaking point. Given their strong personalities and ambitions, it seems unlikely that their friendship will last long-term.
In reality, during the 2016 presidential election, Musk criticized Trump, and Trump mocked Musk by saying he would be worthless without government subsidies, highlighting their historically strained relationship.