Elon Musk, billionaire and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has become a central figure in President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team, with the New York Times dubbing him “the most powerful private citizen in America.” Musk has been an active presence at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Florida estate, participating in strategic discussions on shaping the new administration and its agenda.
Last week, Musk attended high-profile meetings with Trump’s closest advisors, gaining notable standing in Trump’s inner circle. Witnesses noted that Musk received a standing ovation on par with the President-elect himself when he arrived at a dinner shortly after Trump. Sources suggest Musk’s influence has surpassed other prominent transition leaders, including Howard Lutnick and Linda McMahon.
Musk has reportedly advised Trump on a range of issues, from federal bureaucracy reform to national security and even the controversial proposal to dismantle the Department of Education. Additionally, he has been privy to Trump’s conversations with world leaders, including Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky and Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and is expected to meet Argentina’s President Javier Milei during his upcoming visit.
In a surprising announcement, Trump declared plans for a “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), an apparent nod to Musk’s association with Dogecoin, a cryptocurrency. Musk will co-lead this new initiative with entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, with the mission of streamlining government operations and reducing costs.
Karoline Leavitt, spokesperson for Trump, described Musk and Trump as “great friends and brilliant leaders,” underscoring their shared commitment to “making America great again.” As Musk steps deeper into his advisory role, his involvement suggests an unconventional influence on the U.S. government’s future direction.