Elon Musk (left) and Donald Trump (right).
David Swanson | Vincent Alban | Reuters
Former President Donald Trump said: Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk would likely not be able to serve in his hypothetical White House Cabinet due to the demanding schedule of running his various companies.
“He wants to be in there. But look, he runs big companies and all that, so he really can't, I don't think he could get in the Cabinet,” Trump said of Musk in an interview with former Navy Seal Shawn Ryan, an excerpt of which was released Sunday. “I would definitely get him in the Cabinet, but I don't know how he could do that with everything he has going on.”
Trump's comment opens up a potential opportunity for him to exit his new alliance with Musk should he win the November election against Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
“He can, as they say, advise the country and give you some very good ideas,” Trump said, citing artificial intelligence as an example of where Musk could help.
Just two years ago, Trump and Musk were openly arguing and insulting each other in public forums such as social media and at political rallies.
But in this election, they have become allies as Musk moves ever deeper into right-wing politics. Musk publicly endorsed Trump last month, moments after the former president's assassination attempt.
Musk previously helped launch a pro-Trump super action committee in May. Meanwhile, Trump has revived his presence on the X platform after years of being inactive and posting exclusively on Truth Social, the website of Trump media.
Both men have floated the idea of governing together if the former president wins a second term.
“I think it would be great to just have a commission on government efficiency,” Musk said in a conversation with Trump earlier this month that was streamed on X. “And I would love to help with such a commission.”
Trump's comments to Ryan suggest that there will still be some distance between the two.
“Elon and I have a great relationship. He's great,” Trump told Ryan. “He's a totally unusual character… But he's a brilliant guy.”
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