In the days since Election Day, billionaire Elon Musk has become an influential figure in President-elect Donald Trump’s orbit, offering input on personnel decisions and playing a significant role in shaping the future Trump administration, according to multiple sources at ABC News.
Since Election Day, the world’s richest man has spent almost every day at Mar-a-Lago with Trump, multiple sources told ABC News.
Musk appeared in Trump’s family photo on election night, was spotted having dinner with future first lady Melania Trump and played golf with the Trump family over the weekend.
Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk, left, and Donald Trump, before a campaign event at the Butler Farm Show in Butler, Pennsylvania, October 5, 2024.
Justin Merriman/Bloomberg via Getty Images
But his presence extends far beyond that, with sources telling ABC News that Musk is now weighing in on Trump’s personnel choices.
Musk was present on at least two phone calls the president-elect had with foreign leaders, sources told ABC News. During a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week, Trump even handed the phone to Musk so he could also speak to Zelenskyy, sources told ABC News. Musk also had a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to sources.
Elon Musk speaks to former President Donald Trump, Republican presidential candidate, during a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York on October 27, 2024.
Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images
After Trump announced he had chosen Rep. Elise Stefanik to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Musk raised concerns on his X platform about the impact the choice could have on the potentially majority thin Republicans.
“Elise is great, but it might be too risky to lose her from the House, at least for now,” Musk said early Monday morning.
On Sunday, Musk weighed in on the Republican Senate leadership race, supporting Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott.
Musk is also close to Howard Lutnick, who is leading Trump’s transition to the White House.
Musk had a profound impact on Trump’s campaign, including a multibillion-dollar door-to-door campaign, a social media megaphone and a million-dollar sweepstakes for field voters. of battle.
