According to the Wall Street Journal, Donald Trump is reportedly considering enlisting billionaire Elon Musk as a policy adviser should he return to the White House in the upcoming November election. Citing sources familiar with the discussions, the Journal reported that the two have explored avenues for Musk, who oversees the social media platform X, as well as SpaceX and Tesla, to provide “formal input and influence” on economic and border security policies.
The report further stated that Musk has briefed Trump on his ongoing efforts to sway influential U.S. business leaders away from supporting Democratic President Joe Biden, who defeated Trump in the 2020 election and is now vying for a second term. Discussions purportedly included billionaire investor Nelson Peltz and also touched upon the potential financing of a “data-driven project to prevent voter fraud,” although specifics remain undisclosed.
Requests for comment from representatives for both Trump and Musk went unanswered, as did inquiries to the Biden campaign, as reported by the WSJ. Trump campaign spokesperson Brian Hughes emphasized that Trump alone would determine any individual’s role in his presidency.
The Journal noted Musk’s prior announcement, following a meeting with Trump in Florida, that he would not contribute financially to either Trump or Biden’s campaigns. Instead, he expressed a desire “to use his clout … to help defeat Biden by galvanizing the support of influential allies,” according to an individual familiar with Musk’s intentions.
Despite Musk’s increasing alignment with the Republican Party in recent years, he has faced criticism for his unsubstantiated claims, including assertions that Biden intentionally allows migrants to cross the U.S.-Mexico border. Additionally, Musk has been linked to controversial statements on X, although he has denied accusations of antisemitism.
While publicly opposing certain Biden policies on issues such as immigration, electric vehicles, and tariffs, Musk has not officially endorsed any candidate for the upcoming election. Trump has similarly stated uncertainty regarding Musk’s support.
