Can Elon Musk become US president? Donald Trump's big remarks amid raging debate

Donald Trump's statement comes amid growing complaints in the US about Elon Musk's increased influence in the country's politics and administration.

Updated on: Dec 23, 2024, 08:02:01 IST

By HT News Desk

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Donald Trump on Monday called talks that he had ceded the presidency to billionaire Elon Musk a “hoax”, and said that he will be the new president of the United States.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk watch the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket in Brownsville, Texas, U.S. (File photo) (REUTERS)

“No, he’s not taking the presidency,” Trump told a conservative youth group Turning Point USA.

“You know, they’re on a new kick,” he said. “All the different hoaxes. The new one is that President Trump has ceded the presidency to Elon Musk. No, no, that’s not happening,” Bloomberg quoted Trump as saying.

Also read | Stephen King warns Americans about ‘President Musk’s growing control over Donald Trump

Trump's statement comes amid growing complaints in the US about Musk's increased influence in the country's politics since the Republican presidential candidate was elected for a second term at the White House. The world's richest man played a crucial role as the Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed legislation on Friday to avert a midnight government shutdown.

However, Trump expressed his admiration for Musk, one of the largest donors to his presidential campaign. “Isn’t it nice to have smart people we can rely on? Don’t we want that? But no, he’s not going to be president, that I can tell you,” Trump said. “And I’m safe. You know why? He can’t be. He wasn’t born in this country. Ha ha ha,” Trump told his audience in Phoenix.

Also read | Elon Musk emerges as power player amid US government shutdown crisis

Elon Musk and Trump

Trump adopted Musk's idea of cost-cutting and deregulation when he announced the formation of a temporary agency called the Department of Government Efficiency, to be led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. Rather than an official department, it has become a group of small people working from Musk's SpaceX office in Washington and organized around an account on Musk's social media platform, X.

Also read | Trump team refutes ‘President Musk’s outsized influence on GOP

Musk's influence has raised alarm bells in policy-making circles in the US as most of his companies are regulated by the federal government and receive contracts.

During Trump's presidential campaign, Musk donated $238.5 million, making him the single largest donor in US election history.

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HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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