Musk’s fast political ascension is unprecedented. Whereas rich patrons have exerted affect earlier than, no unelected businessman has ever wielded such political energy.
Musk performed a big function within the closing levels of Trump’s presidential marketing campaign, showing with him at a rally in Pennsylvania on the location the place a gunman wounded the Republican candidate, and personally funding a reelection committee.
He has been omnipresent since Trump’s election victory, just about taking on residence at Trump’s house in Mar-a-Lago Florida the place the incoming president is mapping out the transition.
Musk and Amazon proprietor Jeff Bezos, an area race rival, dined with Trump on Wednesday night at Mar-a-Lago.
Musk has not been formally named to Trump’s Cupboard however his expansive transient of slicing federal authorities spending has sparked battle of curiosity considerations.
SpaceX, for instance, relies upon for a big half on US authorities contracts.
Musk’s US$270 million in political donations in the course of the November election cycle made him the most important political donor in US historical past.
However he shelled out much more for Twitter (since re-branded as X) in 2022, paying US$44 billion.
“It is bizarre to suppose that Elon Musk will find yourself having paid far much less for the US Authorities than he did for Twitter,” joked George Conway, a conservative critic.