Donald Trump Is Eyeing Elon Musk as Policy Advisor for White House if He Wins Another Term: Report

By Jace Dela Cruz

May 30, 2024 07:39 AM EDT

Donald Trump is reportedly considering tech billionaire Elon Musk for a possible advisory role in the White House if the former president wins another term.

According to The Wall Street Journal, citing several anonymous sources, the two men have had frequent phone conversations since March, and they have already discussed a possible advisory role for Musk, signaling a thaw in their once-frosty relationship.

SpaceX Falcon-9 Rocket And Crew Dragon Capsule Launches From Cape Canaveral Sending Astronauts To The International Space Station — CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - MAY 30: U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledges SpaceX founder Elon Musk (R) after the successful launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the manned Crew Dragon spacecraft at the Kennedy Space Center on May 30, 2020 in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
(Photo : Saul Martinez/Getty Images)

Donald Trump Reportedly Considers Elon Musk for a White House Advisory Role

Anonymous sources familiar with the pair's conversations told WSJ that Donald Trump and Elon Musk started talking after a meeting at billionaire Nelson Peltz's estate in March. Since then, the two men have reportedly discussed various policy matters, including immigration.

Although Musk has said he will not donate to either presidential campaign in this year's election, he has reportedly told the former president that he plans to host gatherings to dissuade wealthy allies from supporting President Joe Biden.

Elon Musk and Donald Trump Relationship

While Elon Musk briefly served on Donald Trump's White House business advisory group early in the former president's tenure, he left after Trump decided to withdraw the US from the Paris climate accord in 2017.

However, recent developments suggest a shift in their dynamic, which was highlighted by Musk's reinstatement of Trump's Twitter account after acquiring the social media platform in 2022.

Musk has also asked Trump to engage more actively on X, formerly known as Twitter. However, the former president has been loyal to his Truth Social platform.

Trump told CNBC after meeting Musk at Peltz's estate: "I've been friendly with him over the years. I helped him when I was president. I helped him. I've liked him."

However, the former president admitted that he and Musk had opposing views on electric vehicles (EVs). Trump opposes increasing EV production and supports tariffs against foreign EV manufacturing.

According to CNBC, Musk did not endorse Trump in his 2016 or 2020 presidential campaigns, and they have had their share of clashes. However, the X owner's recent social media posts suggest he thinks it is vital that Joe Biden be defeated in November.