Musk as President? Trump Dismisses Claim

On Monday, Donald Trump dismissed claims that he had ceded the presidency to Elon Musk as a "hoax," reaffirming his intention to be the next president of the United States.

Trump explained:

“No, he's not taking the presidency.”

He added:

“You know, they’re on a new kick. All the different hoaxes. The new one is that President Trump has ceded the presidency to Elon Musk. No, no, that's not happening.”

His statement comes amidst increasing concerns about Musk's expanding influence in US politics, particularly following the billionaire's key role in helping the Republican-controlled House of Representatives pass legislation to prevent a government shutdown.

Despite the growing political influence of Musk, Trump, one of the largest beneficiaries of Musk's campaign donations, expressed admiration for the tech mogul.

Trump expressed to his audience in Phoenix:

“Isn't it nice to have smart people we can rely on? Don't we want that? But no, he's not going to be president, that I can tell you. And I'm safe. You know why? He can't be. He wasn't born in this country. Ha ha ha.”

Musk + Trump = Happy Family?

Trump embraced Musk's cost-cutting and deregulation approach with the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E), a temporary agency co-led by Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

Instead of a formal department, the initiative has taken shape as a small group working from Musk's SpaceX office in Washington, with its activities largely coordinated through Musk's social media platform, X (formerly known as Twitter).

Musk's growing influence in US policy circles has sparked concerns, particularly since many of his companies are subject to federal regulation and benefit from government contracts.

Notably, Musk was the largest donor to Trump’s presidential campaign, contributing well over $200 million, marking a significant moment in US election history.