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Musk, who was one of Trump’s most influential advisers during the presidential campaign, has become a prominent figure in the president-elect’s circle
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, left, and US President-elect Donald Trump. (AP file photo)
US President-elect Donald Trump made a light-hearted remark about tech billionaire Elon Musk, saying he “can’t get rid of him,” highlighting the growing bond between the two since Trump’s return to the White House.
Trump made the remark during a meeting with House Republicans in Washington on Wednesday.
Musk, who was one of Trump’s most influential advisers during the presidential campaign, has become a prominent figure in the president-elect’s circle. In his comments, Trump jokingly acknowledged Musk’s enduring presence in his team. “Elon won’t go home. I can’t get rid of him,” Trump said.
According to an NBC News report, at the GOP conference, Trump praised Musk for his dedication during the election campaign. He noted that Musk put aside his own business interests to support the campaign, without asking for anything in return.
Musk was also present at the meeting where Trump was set to address the leaders. According to an Associated Press report, the tech billionaire received three standing ovations and was warmly greeted by several lawmakers.
Rep. Clay Higgins, a Republican from Louisiana, described Musk as “a bright light in any room he’s in” and called him “a commanding presence” during the meeting.
As Musk’s influence continues to grow, with the Tesla owner having pumped an estimated $200 million into his political action committee to support Trump’s election bid. He has also become a prominent fixture at Mar-a-Lago since the presidential election and maintains regular communication with like-minded world leaders, including Argentina’s President Javier Milei and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
On Wednesday, Trump announced that Musk, alongside Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, will lead a new initiative called the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE — a tongue-in-cheek name inspired by the cryptocurrency Dogecoin, which resonates with Musk’s well-known sense of humour.
“We finally have a mandate to delete the mountain of choking regulations that do not serve the greater good,” Musk said in a post on X.
Trump has said that Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to provide “advice and guidance” to the White House. They will collaborate with the Office of Management and Budget to push for structural reforms, some of which may require action from Congress.
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