The White House has confirmed what Elon Musk will actually be doing in Donald Trump’s government.
It’s safe to say that Trump’s first few weeks back in the Oval Office have been anything but quiet.
He’s had a tragedy to deal with, as 67 people lost their lives in a plane crash, and he also appears to have started a trade war with Canada and Mexico.
However, the tariffs he wanted to impose on the countries have been put on pause for 30 days as negotiations continue, per Sky News.
As he is still in the early days of his second term, Trump has been sorting out his government, and that includes his new friend Elon Musk.
The billionaire entrepreneur, known as the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and social media platform X (formerly Twitter), has reportedly gained significant influence within the administration.
His position has granted him access to sensitive databases and the authority to restructure departments, with the goal of reducing government spending.
Despite public scrutiny, the White House has offered a vague definition of Musk’s role, describing him as a “special government employee.”
The designation carries unique privileges, raising questions about the extent of Musk’s power within the administration.
According to AP News, the title of special government employee subjects Musk to less stringent ethics and financial disclosure regulations compared to other federal officials.
Additionally, President Trump has allocated Musk office space within the White House complex to oversee operations at the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
This temporary organization, led by Musk, was established without congressional approval.
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Amid concerns about potential conflicts of interest, President Trump has defended Musk’s appointment, assuring the public of oversight measures.
“Elon can’t do and won’t do anything without our approval,” Trump stated.
“Where we think there’s a conflict or there’s a problem, we won’t let him go near it, but he has some very good ideas,” he added.
Musk’s involvement in the administration has been viewed by some as a reward for his support during Trump’s presidential campaign.
The tech mogul backed Trump against Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, contributing approximately $250 million through America PAC, a super political action committee he founded.
Musk got off to a shaky start with his new government role, as some believed that he performed a fascist salute during the inauguration.
During the festivities, Musk delivered a speech about humanity’s future on Mars.
At one point, he struck his chest and raised his right arm upward at an angle, stating: “I feel it in my heart.” He repeated the motion while facing an American flag, sparking enthusiastic cheers from the audience.
“My heart goes out to you,” Musk declared. “It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured. Thanks to you. We’re gonna have safe cities, finally safe cities. Secure borders, sensible spending. Basic stuff. And we’re gonna take ‘Doge’ to Mars.”
Despite Musk’s supporters arguing that the billionaire’s gesture represented him giving his heart to the American people, critics quickly drew comparisons between Musk’s action and the infamous Nazi salute.
Musk addressed the criticism directly on X, dismissing the accusations.
“Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is so tired,” he wrote, referring to what he has previously described as a “dirty tricks campaign” against him after distancing himself from the Democratic Party.
