Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, SpaceX and the owner of X (formerly Twitter), has signalled his willingness to take on an advisory role in a potential future administration under former US President and Republican candidate Donald Trump. The tech billionaire's response came via a social media post where he stated, "I am willing to serve."
The tweet, which features and AI-generated photo of Musk standing at a podium labelled "Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)," is seen as a playful reference to Dogecoin, the cryptocurrency that started as an Internet meme but has since gained significant popularity thanks to Musk's support as the so-called "Dogefather".
Musk's U-Turn
Earlier this year, Musk denied any discussions regarding a role in a possible Trump administration, asserting, “There have not been any discussions of a role for me in a potential Trump Presidency.”
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What Did Trump Say?
Despite this, Trump recently expressed interest in offering Musk a position, possibly on a commission focused on government efficiency. The former president's comments came during a live conversation on X, where Musk suggested forming a commission to ensure that taxpayer money is spent wisely. Trump responded positively, stating he would "love" to have Musk involved and that he would be "happy to help."
The exchange comes amid Trump's continued campaign for the Republican nomination in the upcoming presidential election. As reported by Reuters, on Monday, Trump mentioned that, if victorious, he would consider appointing Musk to a cabinet position or an advisory role, praising the entrepreneur as "a very smart guy" and "brilliant."
Trump also addressed the $7,500 tax credit for electric vehicle purchases, a policy he criticized during a campaign stop in Pennsylvania. He hinted that he might abolish the credit if he returned to office, stating, "Tax credits and tax incentives are not generally a very good thing." However, he clarified that no final decisions have been made regarding the EV tax credit, a measure that President Joe Biden expanded during his term.
Interestingly, Musk had previously supported Biden in the 2020 election but later shifted his allegiance to Trump after surviving an assassination attempt earlier this year. In a tweet, Musk declared, “I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery.”
Trump, while expressing his fondness for gasoline-powered cars and hybrids, also acknowledged his support for electric vehicles, indicating a complex stance on the future of automotive technology in the US