The Wall Street Journal reports that the pair have had several recent phone calls, and Musk could assist if Trump wins another term
Donald Trump has suggested a potential advisory position for tech billionaire Elon Musk if he were to return to the White House next year, as per a recent report by the Wall Street Journal.
Despite their previous strained relationship, the two men have reportedly had multiple phone conversations each month since March. Trump is said to be aiming to attract influential donors, while Musk is seeking a platform for his policy proposals. The information comes from several anonymous sources familiar with their discussions, according to the newspaper.
In March, Musk and Trump met at billionaire Nelson Peltz’s estate, leading to discussions on various policy matters, notably immigration, which Musk has been outspoken about recently.
Musk tweeted in March, “America will fall if it tries to absorb the world.”
Musk has stated he won’t donate to either presidential campaign this election. However, he reportedly informed Trump of his intention to host events to dissuade wealthy and powerful allies from backing Joe Biden in November.
Just a few years ago, Musk and Trump were trading insults. In 2022, Trump called Musk “another bullshit artist” at a rally, while Musk tweeted that Trump should “hang up his hat and sail into the sunset.”
Musk briefly served on Trump’s White House business advisory group early in his presidency. However, Musk withdrew from the group after Trump withdrew the US from the Paris climate accord in 2017.
Relations between the two now seem to have improved. When Musk acquired Twitter, renaming it X, in 2022, he reinstated Trump’s account. Musk has reportedly encouraged Trump to be more active on X, although Trump has mainly focused on his Truth Social platform.
After meeting Musk at Peltz’s estate in March, Trump told CNBC, “I’ve been friendly with him over the years. I helped him when I was president. I’ve liked him.”
As the owner of Tesla and SpaceX, Musk has profited from federal government policies and contracts, such as rocket-service contracts and tax credits for electric vehicles, over the past few years.
In March, Trump acknowledged that he and Musk “obviously have opposing views on a minor subject called electric cars,” with Trump opposing the increase in electric vehicle production and favoring tariffs on foreign EV manufacturing.
Investor Peltz has played a crucial role in connecting Trump and Musk. Peltz and Musk have informed Trump that they are collaborating on a substantial data-driven project aimed at ensuring votes are counted fairly, although specifics about the project remain unclear.
