Trump Considers Musk for Advisory Role on AI, But Cabinet Position Unlikely

Donald Trump Reveals Key Cabinet Role For Elon Musk Under His Presidency

The former US president also praised Musk's expertise, especially in AI and innovation. Donald Trump, in a recent interview, revealed which cabinet role he has in mind for Tesla CEO Elon Musk. The latest comment of the former US President, as seen in an interview with Shawn Ryan, has fueled discussions in the broader technology sector as well as in the crypto market. Notably, last week, the Republican US Presidential candidate unveiled his plans in a Reuters interview to offer a role for the Tesla CEO in cabinet or his advisory team, if elected. During an interview with former Navy SEAL Shawn Ryan, the former US President expressed his admiration for Elon Musk. In addition, Donald Trump hints at a cabinet position for the billionaire. However, the former US President acknowledged the challenge of Musk juggling his numerous ventures, including Tesla and SpaceX. Considering that, he proposed an alternative role as a federal cost-cutting consultant. Notably, the former US president praised the Tesla CEO's expertise, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI). A Bloomberg report, citing the latest interview, notes that Trump stated: He could sort of, as the expression goes, 'consult' with the country and give you some very good ideas, like on AI. Meanwhile, the comments from the former US President are the latest in a series of interactions between the two recently. Earlier this month, Trump and Musk engaged in a lengthy discussion on Musk's platform X, where they explored the idea of a government commission to review federal expenditures. Musk, who has increasingly aligned himself with right-leaning figures, expressed his willingness to contribute to such a commission, with Trump calling him the "greatest cutter." Musk's involvement in Washington has deepened in recent years, as his companies secure significant government contracts. His support for Trump, including the creation of a super political action committee to back Trump's reelection, signals a strengthening alliance between the two. Musk's advisory role could expand significantly if Trump returns to power, particularly in areas like electric vehicles and cryptocurrency policy. The involvement of Musk in Washington has deepened in recent years, with his ventures securing key government contracts. In addition, his recent backing for Donald Trump signals a growing alliance between the two. However, many have criticized the Trump-Musk alliance, warning over potential bias on Elon Musk's social media platform, X. Meanwhile, earlier this month, Trump revealed his plans to offer a cabinet or advisory role to Elon Musk. Having said that, it is expected Musk's advisory role could expand significantly if the former US President returns to power, particularly in areas like EVs, AI, and crypto policy. Notably, the prospect of Musk playing a key role in the Trump administration comes after the tech mogul endorsed Trump for president last month. Musk's influence is poised to grow, especially given his recent activity in political circles. On August 20, following Trump's comments in the Reuters interview, Musk responded on social media by saying "I am willing to serve." He posted that with a picture labeled D.O.G.E (Department of Government Efficiency), indicating his willingness to serve in a government capacity.

Donald Trump says Elon Musk can consult for the federal government if he wins reelection

During an interview with Shawn Ryan, a former Navy SEAL now turned YouTuber, Trump acknowledged that Musk's existing commitments as the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, as well as the chief technology officer at X, mean he probably wouldn't have the time to join the cabinet. But Trump would welcome Musk if his schedule permits. "He wants to be involved, but look, he's running big businesses and all that," Trump told Ryan in a video released Sunday. "So he can't really. I don't think he'd be for cabinet. I'd put him in the cabinet -- absolutely. But I don't know how he could do that with all the things he's got going." Trump first suggested the idea of Musk joining his cabinet last week, as reported by Reuters. While he now seems to have tempered his position about Musk's role, Trump still sees an opportunity for Musk to be involved in the federal government. "He can sort of, as the expression goes, consult with the country and give you some very good ideas," Trump told Ryan. Trump floated the idea that Musk could advise the federal government on AI policy, especially as the U.S. looks to compete with the rest of the world, and in particular China, to develop the most advanced versions of the technology. "On AI there is nobody that knows more about it than Elon," Trump said. "It's a big thing. And he said it's very important, it's very important for the country." Musk has a long history of working in artificial intelligence. He was instrumental in the founding of OpenAI before falling out with the company's CEO Sam Altman. Several of his other companies including X and Tesla are heavily invested in AI. X launched an AI chatbot called Grok, while Tesla aims to be one of the pioneers in developing autonomous driving and humanoid robots. Musk also has is own AI startup called xAI. For his part, Musk said earlier this month that if Trump were to win reelection in November he'd welcome the opportunity to join a governmental audit committee. During an X Spaces conversation with the former president, Musk pitched the idea of a "government efficiency commission" that would review public spending, saying he would "be happy to help out" on such a project. Trump replied that he would "love" to have Musk on such a committee. He reiterated that point during the clip with Ryan. "What he really would like to do is get involved in cutting some of the fat, and he does know how to do it," Trump said. "He loves the country. And, you know, it's just an amazing thing." Musk endorsed Trump immediately after the assassination attempt against the former president in July. Since then, the two men have heaped praise on one another. Musk lauded Trump's bravery after the assassination attempt, while Trump commended Musk's endorsement of his presidential bid and his smarts. "He's great," Trump said on Sunday. "He is a totally unusual character. And he's smart. We have to cherish our geniuses. You know we don't have too many of them, right?"

Trump says Elon Musk is way too busy for a White House cabinet gig -- but could consult on AI

As much as former President Donald Trump would like Tesla (TSLA) and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to join his potential cabinet, he's probably just too busy. "He wants to be involved. Now look, he's running big businesses and all that, so he can't, really, I don't think he could be cabinet," Trump told Shawn Ryan, a former Navy SEAL and podcaster, in an excerpt of an interview set to publish Monday. "I'd put him in the cabinet, absolutely, but I don't know how he could do that with all the things he's got going." Besides his electric vehicle company and aerospace company -- the latter of which is planning to send billionaire Jared Isaacman on the first-ever private spacewalk on Tuesday -- Musk leads a handful of other firms. That includes artificial intelligence startup xAI, which is intended to compete with OpenAI, brain chip startup Neuralink, tunneling firm The Boring Company, and the social media company X. His nonprofit, the Foundation, is also accepting applications for a private school in Texas. There's also the sheer difficulty of ensuring there would be no conflicts of interest between people who hold public office, their personal finances, and the companies they're involved with. Any move by Musk to put his stock in a blind trust or divest would likely wreck havoc on Tesla's (TSLA) share price, which is highly dependent on his involvement in the firm. Despite those responsibilities, Musk has offered himself up for a job in a second Trump White House. Last week, he supported the idea of leading a possible Department of Government Efficiency. The acronym, of course, would be DOGE, the name of his favorite meme-based cryptocurrency, And for his part, Trump told Ryan he could see Musk taking an advisory role, potentially focused on ramping up U.S. competitiveness on AI. "He can sort of, as the expression goes, consult with the country and give you some very good ideas," Trump said, before touting Musk's AI expertise. Besides helping start both xAI and OpenAI, Musk has repeatedly called Tesla an AI company as it focuses on self-driving vehicles and robots. The two men have have reportedly gotten closer over the past several months, often discussing matters like the U.S. Space Force and immigration. Bloomberg News in May reported that Musk has has counseled Trump on cryptocurrency policy and could be given a job advising Trump on the issue. Musk has also formally endorsed Trump's presidential bid and launched the super PAC America PAC to aid his efforts. The group is being investigated by authorities in Michigan and North Carolina over its practices, CNBC reports. Musk in 2017 resigned from his spot on Trump's White House advisory councils after the then-president withdrew from the Paris climate agreement, calling the move "not good for America or the world." In an interview with Trump earlier this month, Musk said climate change wasn't an issue that needed immediate attention and walked back his earlier, harsher comments on the oil and gas industry.

Trump doubts White House cabinet role for Elon Musk but says Tesla...

Former President Donald Trump said that Tesla CEO Elon Musk is unlikely to serve in his cabinet should he win a second White House term because of his extensive business obligations which include running several companies. "He wants to be involved. Now look, he's running big businesses and all that, so he can't, really, I don't think he could be cabinet," Trump said of Musk during an interview with former Navy Seal Shawn Ryan, an excerpt of which was released on Sunday. "I'd put him in the cabinet, absolutely, but I don't know how he could do that with all the things he's got going." Trump said that Musk could "consult" with his administration on issues such as artificial intelligence. Musk, who also owns the social media platform X, has thrown his support behind Trump this election despite having voted for President Biden in 2020, Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Barack Obama in 2012. Shortly after Trump survived an assassination attempt on July 13, Musk announced he would be endorsing him. Musk praised Trump for pumping his fist and urging his supporters to "fight, fight" as blood was streaming down his face and he was being hauled away by Secret Service agents. The tech mogul has endorsed Trump due to shared concerns over the rise in illegal immigration. Earlier this year, Musk also helped form a pro-Trump super PAC. He has even talked about the idea of helping Trump form a "government efficiency commission." In his comments to Ryan, Trump said that he and Musk "have a great relationship" and that "he's great." "He's a totally unusual character...But he is a brilliant guy." Musk and other tech figures in Silicon Valley have also been disillusioned by the Biden administration's more stringent policies as they relate to regulating businesses. On X, Musk has been more vocal about his right-leaning preferences on issues such as transgender policies. Last month, Musk announced that his rocket-building company, SpaceX, would relocate its headquarters from its current home in California to Texas in protest of a new state law that bans school districts from requiring that parents be notified if their child transitions to another gender. Musk's social media company, formerly known as Twitter, also said goodbye to San Francisco. Like SpaceX, X is also shifting its headquarters to Texas. During the pandemic, Musk was harshly critical of California regulators and Democratic politicians who forced businesses to shutter in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Musk was so incensed by lockdowns that he moved Tesla headquarters from the San Francisco Bay Area to its current home in Austin, Texas. Since taking over X, Musk has lifted the ban on Trump and scores of other right-leaning accounts that were taken down by Twitter's previous management. Over the weekend, Trump supporters were enthused after the former president began posting on X -- something he had not done regularly since founding his own social media platform Truth Social. Trump hit out at "Comrade Kamala" Harris and running mate "Tampon Tim" Walz, accusing them of risking "World War III" as "bombs are dropping all over the place!" In another post on X, Trump wrote: "Kamala and her 'handlers' are trying to make it sound like I am the Incumbent President, so that they can blame me for the failure of the past four years. No, it was their failure! It is one of the worst Presidencies in History, and she is definitely the Worst Vice President." Earlier this month, Trump gave a lengthy interview on X Spaces to Musk during which they discussed several key issues heading into the election, including the border and inflation.

Trump Cites Musk's Business Commitments As Barrier To Join His Cabinet

Former President Donald Trump said in an interview that he is unsure of Elon Musk's ability to serve in his cabinet if he were to return to the White House, citing the Tesla and SpaceX CEO's demanding business schedule. Speaking with former Navy Seal Shawn Ryan in an interview made public Sunday, Trump acknowledged Musk's interest in being involved, but questioned whether he could manage such a role while overseeing his numerous enterprises. "He wants to be involved. Now look, he's running big businesses and all that, so he can't, really, I don't think he could be cabinet," Trump said. "I'd put him in the cabinet, absolutely, but I don't know how he could do that with all the things he's got going." Republican presidential nominee Trump's remarks hint at a possible distancing from Musk, despite their recent political alliance while he takes on Democrats' Kamala Harris in the upcoming November election, according to CNBC. The former president suggested that while Musk might not hold an official position, he could still offer valuable advice, particularly in areas like artificial intelligence. "He can sort of, as the expression goes, consult with the country and give you some very good ideas," Trump said. He said artificial intelligence could be an area where Musk could help the White House. The statement comes after a period of growing closeness between the two, following years of public disagreements, when they used to exchange insults on public forums like social media and at political rallies. Musk has increasingly aligned himself with right-wing politics, even endorsing Trump last month, shortly after an assassination attempt on the former president. Earlier this year, Musk also played a role in establishing a pro-Trump super PAC to further cement their partnership. Trump also returned to X platform recently upon Musk's invitation after a long hiatus during which he was exclusively posting to Truth Social, the site owned by Trump Media. Both have floated the idea of governing together if Trump is re-elected. "I think it would be great to just have a government efficiency commission," Musk said in a chat with Trump on X. "And I'd be happy to help out on such a commission." Despite this, Trump's recent comments suggest that while their relationship remains strong, Musk's role in a potential second Trump administration would likely be more advisory than official. "Elon and I have a great relationship. He's great," Trump told Ryan. "He's a totally unusually character...But he is a brilliant guy."

Trump: Musk probably too busy to serve in Cabinet, but could 'consult'

Former President Trump said Tesla CEO Elon Musk would probably be too busy to serve in his Cabinet if he wins the election in November but suggested the billionaire tech mogul could "consult." "He wants to be involved. Now, look, he's running big businesses and all that, so, he can't really, I don't think he'd be [free] for the Cabinet," Trump said in an interview on the "Shawn Ryan Show." "I'd put him in the Cabinet, absolutely, but I don't know how he could do that with all the things he's got going," he continued. "But he could sort of, as the expression goes, consult with the country and give you some very good ideas." Trump pointed to Musk's knowledge of artificial intelligence (AI). Musk owns an AI startup called xAI and has sought to incorporate the technology at Tesla. The former president previously suggested that he would consider the Tesla CEO for a role in his Cabinet. Musk, who also owns the social media platform X, endorsed Trump in the presidential race and backed a super PAC supporting the former president's bid. "He's a very smart guy. I certainly would, if he would do it, I certainly would. He's a brilliant guy," Trump said in an interview with Reuters last week. During a two-hour conversation between Trump and Musk on X earlier this month, Musk also said he would be willing to serve on a government commission to study the national debt and congressional spending. "I think it would be great to just have a government efficiency commission that looks at these things to make sure taxpayer money is spent in a good way," he told the former president. "I'd be happy to help out on such a commission." Trump is currently trailing Vice President Harris by 3.7 percent in the 2024 race, according to The Hill-Decision Desk HQ polling average. Harris became the Democratic nominee after President Biden dropped out of the race last month.

Trump Says He'd Add Musk to Cabinet If Tesla CEO Has Time for It

Former President Donald Trump says he would put Elon Musk in his cabinet if the world's richest person had the bandwidth, adding that that it was likelier that he'd involve the Tesla Inc. and SpaceX chief executive officer as a federal cost-cutting consultant. "I'd put him into cabinet, absolutely, but I don't know how he could do that with all the things he's got going," said Trump, speaking in an interview with former Navy Seal Shawn Ryan and praising Musk as a genius. "But he could sort of, as the expression goes, 'consult' with the country and give you some very good ideas, like on AI," he said.