During a speech in Arizona, President-elect Donald Trump humorously quashed any notion of Elon Musk becoming president, asserting his own authority in the matter.
Trump jovially remarked, “No, he’s not going to be president, that I can tell you,” at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest in Phoenix, his first significant address post-November election. He added, “And I’m safe. You know why? He can’t be. He wasn’t born in this country.”
In a light-hearted gesture, Trump commended Musk, a native of South Africa, as a “great guy.” Musk, alongside tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, is slated to head the Department of Government Efficiency, with the objective of reducing government size and expenditures.
Trump’s remarks coincided with Democratic attempts to portray Musk, the wealthiest individual globally, as a hindrance to the incoming administration.
Prior to this incident, both Trump and Musk intervened in House Republicans’ initial budget proposal, causing turmoil as Congress hurried to avert a government shutdown.
Several Democratic lawmakers expressed reservations about Musk’s sway over Republican legislators, insinuating that he held more power than Trump. The Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump organization, released a video labeling Trump as the “vice president” to “President Musk.”
Despite Democratic insinuations, Republicans downplayed any discord between Trump and Musk, with Trump’s team labeling such claims as “ridiculous.” Amidst the budget crisis, Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s incoming White House press secretary, clarified, “President Trump is the leader of the Republican Party. Full stop.”
Addressing the crowd, Trump refuted rumors of ceding the presidency to Musk, stating unequivocally, “All the different hoaxes, and the new one is, ‘President Trump has ceded the presidency to Elon Musk.’ No, no. That’s not happening.”
Musk has recently been asserting his political influence, including substantial financial contributions to the 2024 election in support of Republicans. He also announced plans to finance moderate primary challengers against incumbent Democrats. Speculations have arisen within the Republican circles suggesting Musk as a potential successor to Speaker Mike Johnson.
Trump’s speech, a triumphant recap lasting over an hour, featured claims of winning the popular vote, acclamation for his “all-star” Cabinet selections, and articulation of his agenda for the forthcoming term.
Resonating with his campaign rhetoric from the 2024 cycle, Trump reiterated promises of tax reductions, reclaiming the Panama Canal, and a commitment to preserving traditional military nomenclature as part of his agenda against “woke” ideology in the armed forces.
