Former President Donald Trump recently offered more insights into Elon Musk’s potential role in a future Trump administration during a conversation on the Shawn Ryan podcast. This follows Trump’s earlier hints on social media, where he floated the idea of the Tesla CEO joining his team, perhaps in a cabinet or advisory role.
Trump, never one to shy away from big ideas, doubled down on this notion, describing Musk as a “brilliant guy” who could bring significant value to his administration. “I certainly would, if he would do it,” Trump said, emphasizing that Musk’s genius is something the country should cherish, especially given that such talent isn’t exactly in surplus.
Musk, ever the enigmatic figure, responded positively, even jokingly posting an image of himself as the head of the “Department for Government Efficiency.” It’s clear Musk is at least entertained by the idea, and possibly more.
When Ryan pressed Trump for more specifics, particularly whether Musk’s role might involve artificial intelligence, Trump was quick to praise the tech mogul. “He’s great. And he’s smart. And we have to cherish our geniuses. You know, we don’t have too many of them, right?” Trump said, adding that Musk’s knack for cutting through bureaucratic fat is exactly what the country needs.
Trump has long admired Musk’s ability to streamline operations across his various ventures, and he sees Musk’s talents as crucial for tackling inefficiency in government. “He loves our country, you know, it’s just an amazing thing,” Trump added, in a nod to Musk’s patriotism.
The former president also hinted that Musk might take on a role in shaping the future of artificial intelligence, an area where Musk has expressed both interest and concern. “Yeah, he wants to be involved. Now look, he’s running big businesses and all that, so I don’t think it’d be cabinet. I would put him in the cabinet absolutely, but I don’t know how he could do that with all the things he’s got going,” Trump explained.
While a formal cabinet position might be a stretch given Musk’s existing commitments, Trump suggested that Musk could still offer invaluable advice on AI, a field that Trump acknowledges as critical for maintaining U.S. competitiveness. “If we don’t do it, China is going to do it or somebody else, but most likely China,” Trump warned, highlighting the stakes.
In typical Trump fashion, the door remains wide open for collaboration, with Musk poised to play a key role in Trump’s vision for a streamlined, tech-savvy administration—should the opportunity arise.
