PRESIDENT MUSK?
From memes to major diplomacy – how Elon Musk has emerged as Trump’s ‘co-President’…& ALREADY sparked ire of Don’s team
Watch The Sun's Harry Cole speak on Trump and Musk's growing bond
BILLIONAIRE Elon Musk's close ties with Donald Trump has propelled him into the White House - with the tech mogul now behaving as "co-President", sources claim.
Musk has grown close to the president-elect through his powerful pull over US citizens and unwavering support for the Republican campaign - all of which earned him a role in Trump's top team.
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But the unconventional duo are beginning to frustrate MAGA big-hitters with Musk taking credit for the Republican clean sweep, say sources close to Trump.
Trump himself even cracked a joke at a black tie bash in Mar-a-Lago on Thursday as he said about Musk: "He likes this place, I can’t get him out of here."
The Tesla chief was rewarded for his election push in favour of Trump by being given the role as co-lead of the Department of Government Efficiency.
Alongside Vivek Ramaswamy, Musk will advise the President on cost efficient ways to save America on spending.
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The role, which is not an official government position, has already caught the attention of the public for it being an acronym of the word DOGE - a clear nod towards Musk's beloved cryptocurrency known as Dogecoin.
He has also reportedly spent "nearly every day" at Mar-a-Lago since Trump's crushing election victory.
Leaving many to believe Musk's proximity to Trump is set to make him one of the most important people on the plant.
But this aggressive play for a seat among the world's most elite and powerful has rubbed some MAGA diehards urgently warning of Musk's presence.
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Two people close to the incoming leader of the free world said Musk has been pushing his views directly onto Trump in recent weeks.
Watch moment Trump and Elon Musk belt out God Bless America in rendition that wows Maga crowd - but fans spot major flaw
They feel he has constantly stepped in the way of Trump’s transitional team and has overstayed his welcome.
Musk's unwavering support in the election run-up was crucial for the Republican clean sweep but many felt he would return to SpaceX, Tesla and X following the win.
The pair told NBC News: "He’s behaving as if he’s a co-President and making sure everyone knows it.
“And he’s sure taking lots of credit for the president’s victory. Bragging about America PAC and X to anyone who will listen.
"He’s trying to make President Trump feel indebted to him. And the president is indebted to no one.”
They added that Musk is present in almost every meeting Trump has attended including some huge politically sensitive chats.
Last week, Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky was due to speak with Trump over the phone amid rising tensions in the war in Europe.
But reports later emerged that Musk had also hopped on the call with the two world leaders.
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The surprise guest in the three-way discussion reportedly chimed in saying he would continue to supply Starlink satellites to Ukraine.
The anonymous source hinted at this chat was one of the first indications of Musk's influence seeping through on Trump.
Talking about Musk they said: "He wants to be seen as having say in everything."
The SpaceX founder was again present on Trump's trip to Washington, D.C. as the president-elect spoke with outgoing leader Joe Biden and Republicans on Capitol Hill.
Trump's granddaughter Kai has even started calling Musk "uncle Elon" in social media posts in recent days.
Despite the shock claims many others in Trump's transition team are clear that Musk is good for the president-elect.
Trump-Vance spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt called the pair "great friends and brilliant leaders".
She also labelled the tech guru as a "once in a generation business leader".
ANALYSIS: Trump is moving fast, breaking things - and Elon is just the start
By Harry Cole, Political Editor of The Sun
PEOPLE joked about Elon Musk joining the Trump administration - and lo and behold, he's actually done it.
He's not been given a formal government job - and won't be in the White House - but he's setting up the Department of Government Efficiency.
That is DOGE for short - and internet fans will know this is a small fluffy dog meme, of which Musk is a fan.
Again, everyone thought he was joking about the name - and now he's gone and done it.
Musk will lead this efficiency drive, looking at where government savings can be made.
He will be applying the sort of private sector efficiency that he is so famed for at Tesla and at SpaceX.
This is a guy who puts reusable rockets in the air and grabs them out of the sky with giant chopsticks.
He knows what he is talking about.
Left-wing media have sneered at Musk since he backed Trump as they see the Republican as toxic.
But Musk is clearly an incredibly intelligent guy who is going to devote his time and resources to the United States.
It is clear Trump is moving fast - and he is breaking things.
This is his second term and don't forget he can't be reelected again, he's only got one more chance to do things in a very different way.
When he came into office in 2016, there was a bit of a rush to make lots of appointments.
He is the first to admit he chose some bad bad ones.
But this time around it's going to be a very different presidency - starting with bringing in Musk.
Trump is sending a signal: "Business as usual is over."
Trump has echoed this high praise for his new pal as during his first victory speech he singled out Musk and gave him a special thanks.
He told crowds: "We have a new star - a star is born, Elon [Musk]!
"He is an amazing guy, we were sitting together tonight.
"He spent two weeks in Philadelphia and different parts of Pennsylvania campaigning."
The 78-year-old went on to praise Musk for his "super-genius" and described how he was in awe watching his Space X rocket return to Earth without a hitch.
"He sent the rocket up two weeks ago and I saw that rocket, I saw it coming down it was beautiful," Trump said.
The proud X owner had been a key fixture of Trump's campaign and had been pipped for a role in Trump's cabinet over the last few weeks
Ever since Musk was handed the DOGE role in Trump's top team he has responded by pledging that it "will send shockwaves through the system."
"Anyone involved in government waste, which is a lot of people," he added.
He also floated the idea of DOGE merchandise, describing it by sharing a series of fire emojis.
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Shark Tank star and mega entrepreneur Robert Herjavec also told The Sun that Musk is a “genius for the ages”.
Herjavec said it was “fantastic” that Trump had tapped the Tesla founder to help slash government spending in his new role.
Donald Trump's top team so far...
In the days following his dominant Election Day victory, President-elect Donald Trump has begun carving out his future administation.
Here's a list of Trump's confirmed cabinet picks:
- Susie Wiles - White House Chief of Staff
- Stephen Miller - Deputy Chief of Staff
- Bill McGinley - White House counsel
- Tom Homan, ex-ICE acting director - "Border Czar"
- Elise Stefanik, Republican New York representative - Ambassador to the United Nations
- Lee Zeldin, former New York representative - Environmental Protection Agency administrator
- Marco Rubio, Republican Florida senator - Secretary of State
- Kristi Noem, Republican South Dakota governor - Homeland Security Secretary
- Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas governor - Ambassador to Israel
- John Ratcliffe, former Texas representative - CIA director
- Pete Hegseth, US Army veteran - Secretary of Defense
- Mike Waltz, Republican Florida representative - National Security Advisor
- Steven Witkoff, real estate investor - Middle East envoy
- Elon Musk & Vivek Ramaswamy - Department of Government Efficiency
- Tim Scott, Republican South Carolina senator - Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee
- Tulsi Gabbard, former Hawaii representative - Director of National Intelligence
- Matt Gaetz, Republican Florida representative - Attorney General
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. - Secretary of Health and Human Servies
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