Donald Trump rules out Elon Musk's White House cabinet position, suggests new role for tech tycoon

WASHINGTON, DC: Donald Trump has indicated that while he values Elon Musk's input, it is unlikely that the Tesla CEO would serve in his cabinet if Trump were to win the upcoming November election.

During an interview with former Navy Seal Shawn Ryan, the former president acknowledged Elon Musk's extensive business commitments, which include running multiple companies, as a barrier to such an appointment in the White House.

Elon Musk's potential role in Donald Trump's administration

Donald Trump said about Elon Musk, “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."

“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," the GOP presidential nominee added.

Although a formal cabinet role seems out of reach for Musk, Trump suggested that the tech mogul could still play a significant role in his administration, particularly as a consultant on critical issues such as artificial intelligence.

Emphasizing his appreciation for Musk's expertise and influence, Trump said they have a "great relationship" and that he is “a brilliant guy,” according to The Hill.

Why is Elon Musk endorsing Donald Trump?

Despite supporting Barack Obama in 2012, Hillary Clinton in 2016, and President Joe Biden in 2020, Elon Musk has now announced his endorsement of Trump for the 2024 election race. 

Musk’s endorsement came shortly after Trump survived an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania, Butler, on July 13. 

The tech billionaire praised the 78-year-old politician's resilience during the incident, particularly for pumping his fist after being shot and encouraging Republicans to “fight, fight” even as Secret Service agents were escorting him away from the event.

The endorsement also reflects Trump and Musk's shared concerns over the rise in illegal immigration.

Elon Musk’s growing political involvement

With his endorsement, Elon Musk has taken significant steps to support Donald Trump’s election campaign.

He helped form a pro-Trump super PAC this year and has also discussed the possibility of assisting in the creation of a “government efficiency commission” under his administration, if reelected.

His growing political involvement comes amid increasing disillusionment among Silicon Valley tech leaders with the regulatory policies under the Biden administration.

The tech leaders, including Musk, have viewed these policies as overly stringent, further driving the Space X CEO's alignment with Trump and right-leaning stances on issues such as transgender policies, which he has criticized on his social media platform, X.