Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has hinted at joining a potential new administration under President Donald Trump, aligning with Trump’s vision of slashing government costs. Musk, a vocal supporter of Trump’s recent campaign, has not ruled out a Cabinet role if Trump is inaugurated on January 6, fueling speculation on social media.
In October, Trump proposed creating a “secretary of cost-cutting” position and suggested that Musk would be a fitting candidate, citing Musk’s business acumen and innovation in cost efficiency. “He’s a great business guy…and he’s a great cost-cutter,” Trump said during a Fox News interview, adding, “I’m going to have Elon Musk — he is dying to do this.” Trump referenced Musk’s expertise in streamlining operations, stating, “He said: I could cut costs without affecting anybody.”
Trump’s openness to Musk’s involvement follows a pattern of appointing prominent business figures to government positions. In his previous administration, Trump brought in several corporate executives, including Exxon Mobil’s Rex Tillerson and billionaire Betsy DeVos, as Cabinet members. Musk’s name is now floated as a possible key player if Trump assumes office, with a proposed mandate to “trim” government functions and streamline federal spending.
Recently, Musk has amplified his support for Trump’s campaign, attending rallies and donating over $100 million to Republican causes. Musk has also suggested that the federal budget could be reduced by “at least” $2 trillion, emphasizing a vision of a “nation of builders” with fewer regulatory constraints. In one social media post following Trump’s win, Musk declared, “America is a nation of builders. Soon, you will be free to build.”
In a lighter moment on social media, Musk shared an image of himself inside the Oval Office holding a sink, captioned, “Let that sink in,” fueling further speculation about his potential involvement in the Trump administration.