In a Thursday interview with Tucker Carlson in Arizona, former President Donald Trump suggested that Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. might hold “influential” roles in a potential second Trump administration, though he avoided specifics on what those roles could entail. The conversation with Carlson, held in a key battleground state, also saw Trump directing sharp criticism at his political opponents, including Vice President Kamala Harris and former Congresswoman Liz Cheney.
During the interview, Carlson inquired if Musk and Kennedy would play influential roles in his administration. Trump responded affirmatively, while refraining from providing details. Musk, a vocal supporter, has financially backed a Super PAC supporting Trump’s campaign, and Kennedy endorsed Trump after ending his own presidential bid as an independent.
The discussion marked Trump’s effort to bolster his position in Arizona, a historically Republican state where polls show him with a slight lead. Carlson, a conservative former Fox News commentator, engaged Trump in a friendly conversation at the 19,000-capacity arena in Glendale, Arizona, where the event was promoted as a fundraiser for Hurricane Helene recovery efforts.
Trump criticized Cheney as a “radical war hawk,” suggesting she should experience the realities of combat herself. He also called Harris “a low IQ individual” and “dumb as a rock.” Carlson further pressed Trump on his stance toward agencies like the FBI and CIA, which he alleged have worked against him since his first term, though Trump was noncommittal in his responses.
As the election nears, Trump hinted at the possibility of fraud should he lose, stating he believes he’s “leading by a lot” and suggesting only “cheating” could prevent his victory. Howard Lutnick, co-chair of Trump’s transition team, later downplayed Musk’s and Kennedy’s prospects of securing official cabinet roles, suggesting Musk might “help” the government rather than work for it, while Kennedy might be assigned health data duties rather than lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
