Musk Without a Mask: Why the Billionaire's Influence on Trump Raises Concerns

Billionaire Elon Musk has become highly involved in the transition team of the elected President of the United States. According to leading American media, the businessman's influence is so significant that he has practically taken up residence at Trump's estate in Florida. Not everyone in the Republican team appreciates this vigorous activity; the founder of Tesla and SpaceX is already being accused of acting like a “co-president of the United States.”

As is known, the 53-year-old Musk spent around $150 million supporting Mr. Trump through his organization America PAC during the 2024 election campaign, subsequently establishing himself as a close advisor to the main Republican. According to CNN, in the days following the election on November 5, Musk was present at the elected president's estate in Mar-a-Lago (Florida) “almost every day,” was seen at nearly every interview with candidates for high positions, played golf with Mr. Trump, and also dined with him and his wife Melania.

Additionally, the billionaire participated in phone discussions between the Republican and world leaders, particularly with the presidents of Ukraine and Turkey, Volodymyr Zelensky and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Axios reported. The conversation between Elon Musk and Volodymyr Zelensky, according to eyewitnesses, was unexpected for everyone, brief, and concerned the supply of Starlink satellite internet systems. Musk's presence during the conversation with the Turkish leader, according to Axios, was explained by the fact that he was dining with the elected president of the United States at that moment.

Last weekend, President Zelensky received a rather peculiar “greeting” from Musk. In particular, the billionaire mocked the president's statement that Ukraine is an independent country that cannot be forced to “sit and listen” at the negotiating table. It should be noted that Elon Musk reposted a modified quote from the current president of Ukraine from his recent interview with Ukrainian Radio. In Musk's version, the quote reads: “The U.S. cannot force us to sit and listen at the negotiating table. We are an independent country.” “He has a wonderful sense of humor,” Musk commented.

Musk, as can be easily verified, took Zelensky's words out of context. In reality, the current leader of the war-torn country was emphasizing that Ukraine should not be pressured. “We are an independent country. I believe that during this war, our people and I personally in negotiations with the U.S., with Trump, with Biden, and with other European leaders have proven that the rhetoric of 'sit and listen' does not work with us. And this is not because we are like this. But because we should treat any country that way in principle. With respect. Equality is one of those values for which we are fighting today,” is the full quote from Volodymyr Zelensky. One must agree that there is a significant difference between this and what Musk presented; as they say in Odessa, there are two big differences. This undoubtedly evokes negative emotions. However, Musk's remark about Zelensky, summarizing that “he has a great sense of humor,” causes even greater outrage. A logical question arises: does a person who has achieved cosmic heights in business truly not understand that the president of a country engaged in a full-scale war for the third consecutive year is not in the mood for jokes?

Former Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Valeriy Chaly is convinced that, yes, Elon Musk does not understand what is happening. “I can hardly be called a ‘fan’ of Volodymyr Zelensky, but in fact, the insult to the current President of Ukraine is a slap in my face as well. I am sure: an immediate response is needed to this unjust ‘attack,’ regardless of Elon Musk's closeness to Donald Trump. Staying silent will not work – there will be negative consequences. How to do this? Our current power establishment claims that they are the best at these information games. They have the cards in hand. But it is obvious that Elon Musk does not understand Ukrainians. At all. Someone needs to explain to him how the Russian tsar differed from the Ukrainian hetman and how the Moscow boyars differed from the Cossack council… And also remind him of the historically recent example of the Ukrainian Maidan of 2014, when, despite all the actions and decisions of politicians, it was the active part of the Ukrainian people of all nationalities who dismantled any ‘deals’ and set demands that were later fulfilled,” emphasizes the diplomat.

Meanwhile, The New York Times, citing sources, reported that Elon Musk is already holding personal meetings on foreign policy matters. In particular, it is reported that recently he discussed the prospects of easing tensions between Tehran and Washington with Iran's UN ambassador Amir Saeed Iravani. According to NYT sources from the Iranian side, the conversation lasted over an hour and took place in a secret location. The publication's anonymous sources described the discussion as “good news.” The transition team of Donald Trump declined to comment on the specifics of the meeting. However, Republican spokesperson Caroline Levitt reminded that “the American people reelected President Trump because they trust him to lead the country and restore peace through strength worldwide.” “When he returns to the White House, he will take the necessary steps to do just that,” she added.

It is quite indicative that Musk's role as a gray cardinal is not limited to foreign policy. He has already attempted to influence the Congressional elections by recently urging conservatives to elect the right-wing Republican Rick Scott as their new leader. However, on Capitol Hill, the embattled billionaire's pressure was not heeded: Republicans preferred John Thune from South Dakota.

The current closeness between Musk and Trump alarms many members of the elected president's team. The businessman “behaves as if he is co-president and is trying to make everyone aware of it,” an unnamed source from the Republican Party, “deeply familiar with the situation,” told NBC News. Trump himself has so far preferred to joke about it. Recently, during a meeting with Republican lawmakers, he stated: “Elon doesn’t want to go home. I can’t get rid of him.”

Meanwhile, as noted by The New York Times, Musk is also a link between the new administration and Silicon Valley. Over the past week, several tech company leaders have been proposing candidates for positions in Donald Trump's cabinet behind closed doors, which the publication notes, he is open to. However, it was first necessary to convince Elon Musk. In particular, according to NYT, one of Musk's friends, investor and co-founder of Palantir Joe Lonsdale, spent a day at Trump's estate in Mar-a-Lago. The investor is not interested in a permanent government position but expressed his willingness to submit resumes of potential candidates with whom “Mr. Trump could work.” For example, for the position of Secretary of Transportation, Silicon Valley leaders were pushing for former Uber executive Emil Michael. Several other tech company leaders may join Elon Musk in the newly created Department of Government Efficiency.

Recall that back in August, during his interview with Donald Trump, Elon Musk first proposed creating a “government efficiency commission” that could oversee the spending of federal agencies. On the eve of the elections, speaking to Republican supporters at a rally in New York, the billionaire stated that the federal budget could be cut by at least $2 trillion. The elected president liked the idea, after which he announced the appointment of Elon Musk and another active supporter of his, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, as co-chairs of this department. The agency was given the abbreviation DOGE, which is also the name of the cryptocurrency that Musk once promoted.

It remains unclear whether this structure will officially exist within the federal government of the United States or outside of it. The fact is that a government division cannot be created without the consent of Congress. Moreover, as Reuters emphasizes, Elon Musk's presence in the administration potentially poses a conflict of interest: his companies Tesla, SpaceX, and Starlink receive government funding, and some actions of these entities have also been the subject of federal investigations.

“Elon Musk is the first techno-oligarch who realized that power in America is more important than money. And in this context, what matters is not what position President Trump will eventually appoint his friend the multi-billionaire to, but what role Musk will assign to Trump in his game. And whether the ambitious but aging Trump will agree to this role, especially considering his jealous entourage. The assertive Musk is yet to realize that in the struggle for power over Trump's body and mind, he will either have to completely suppress him or reformat the American president’s entourage to his advantage,” notes political scientist Viktor Nebozhenko.

In general, many experts agree that the “advice and love” between Trump and Musk, considering the pronounced egocentrism of both characters, will not last long, and this political alliance is doomed to divorce from the outset.