Former President Donald Trump recently announced that he plans to bring Elon Musk onto his government team, a move that has garnered significant attention due to Musk’s prominence as a tech entrepreneur and CEO of companies like Tesla and SpaceX. Musk’s father, Errol Musk, recently weighed in on what the appointment of Musk in a governmental role could mean for his son’s businesses.
Elon Musk to serve on the Trump Administration
For President-elect Trump’s second presidential term, he has brough on Musk to serve jointly as head of the Department of Government Efficiency with Vivek Ramaswamy. The Department intends to orchestrate ways in which to reduce waste, cut bureaucracy and red tape, and improve efficiency across federal agencies. The department is the brain-child of Trump and will be first time it is seen in operation in the government.
Both Musk and Ramaswamy’s success in entrepreneurship is what saw them appointed to the role. Musk’s success in the notorious electric car company Tesla and space technology company SpaceX and Ramaswamy’s lucrative pharmaceutical company Roivant Sciences showcase tenacity and leadership which is needed in order to successfully dismantle government bureaucracy and cut wasteful spending.
The future of Tesla and SpaceX
Musk’s father said in an interview with Tom Burges Watson for GNT that he expects that his son will suggest drastic cut downs of staff within federal agencies as part of his plan to reduce wasteful spending. This is the same approach he took at X, formally known as Twitter, to increase efficiency within the company and cut down on unnecessary costs.
“Elon has a tremendous task on his hands,” Errol said. “He has a couple hundred thousand employees and a lot of very serious things going on in his life, so he has to be available for all that he started … [he] can’t just walk away from things.” It is unclear what Musk’s plans are to manage his two companies while serving in a government agency.
“To have him sit in an office somewhere in Washington, waiting and twiddling his thumbs – no, no. He has to be called upon on a sort of consultancy basis,” continued Musk’s father. One thing is for certain, that Musk will waste not a moment in balancing in commitments across all his involvements. “I can’t think of anyone more suited to a role like this than Elon,” Errol said. “He’s always been frugal. As a young boy, he wanted to do things as cheaply, better and quicker than anyone else.”
The economy to be at the forefront of Trump’s second term
As Donald Trump launches his second presidential term, the cost of living and the economy will be central themes. Trump has consistently highlighted the rising costs of everyday goods throughout his campaign, including housing, healthcare, and food, which have been exacerbated by inflation and economic uncertainty in recent years.
His presidential campaign emphasized the need to restore economic stability, create jobs, and reduce government spending, which positioned himself as a candidate who can rein in high taxes and regulatory burdens that many argue have contributed to the financial strain on American families. Trump promises to return the country to a path of economic growth by focusing on policies that prioritize American businesses, energy independence, and manufacturing.
His message resonated with voters frustrated by stagnating wages and rising living costs which positioned him as an advocate for those struggling to make ends meet. As the cost of living continues to be a major concern for Americans, Trump’s economic agenda aims to address these challenges head-on, with promises of lower taxes, deregulation, and economic policies designed to revitalize the middle class.
