Since Election Day, tech magnate Elon Musk has become a prominent figure within President-elect Donald Trump’s inner circle, sources reveal, advising on key personnel decisions and potentially shaping the direction of the incoming administration.
Insiders tell ABC News that the billionaire, often dubbed the world’s richest man, has been a near-constant presence at Mar-a-Lago with Trump since the election concluded. Musk’s visibility with the Trump family has been hard to miss. He was featured in a family photo shared by Tiffany Trump on X on election night, was seen dining with Melania Trump, and joined the Trump family for a round of golf over the weekend, as reported by ABC News (Donald Trump and Elon Musk golf at Trump International after election win).
Elon Musk and Donald Trump before a campaign event in Pennsylvania.
Beyond these public appearances, Musk’s influence extends to crucial policy discussions. Sources indicate to ABC News that Musk is actively involved in advising Trump on critical staffing choices for the upcoming administration.
Furthermore, Musk’s involvement has reached the international stage. According to sources within ABC News, Musk participated in at least two phone calls Trump held with foreign leaders. Notably, during a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump reportedly passed the phone to Musk, allowing him to engage directly with Zelenskyy. Musk was also present during a call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, sources added. This level of access underscores Musk’s significant role in Trump’s post-election engagements.
Elon Musk speaking at a Trump campaign rally in New York.
Musk’s opinions are not limited to private conversations. Following Trump’s announcement of Rep. Elise Stefanik as his pick for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Musk publicly voiced concerns on his social media platform X about the potential ramifications for the Republican Party’s narrow majority in the House. “Elise is awesome, but it might be too risky to lose her from the House, at least for now,” Musk posted on Monday morning.
Musk also publicly weighed in on the Republican Senate leadership race on Sunday, endorsing Florida Senator Rick Scott, further demonstrating his engagement in Republican politics post-election.
Adding to his influence, Musk maintains a close relationship with Howard Lutnick, who is spearheading Trump’s White House transition efforts.
Musk’s impact on Trump’s campaign was already significant, including reported contributions to a large-scale door-knocking campaign, leveraging his social media presence, and even a $1 million voter sweepstakes in key states. His continued and deepening involvement post-election signals a potentially powerful alliance shaping the future political landscape.
