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PALM BEACH, Fla. — As President-elect Donald Trump makes rapid decisions to fill his Cabinet, the competition for influential roles has intensified, both behind the scenes and in the public eye.
Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, a significant ally of Trump, has advocated for increased public involvement in deciding who should serve as the Secretary of the Treasury.
In a post on his own social media platform, Musk suggested, “It would be intriguing to hear more voices weigh in for @realDonaldTrump to consider.” Musk, who has already been assigned to co-lead a commission aimed at enhancing the efficiency of government spending, took the opportunity to use his post to initiate a public opinion poll. He endorsed Howard Lutnick, CEO of financial services company Cantor Fitzgerald and co-chair of Trump’s transition team, as his choice over hedge fund manager Scott Bessent.
Musk remarked that “Bessent represents a business-as-usual choice, while @howardlutnick would genuinely bring about change.”
He further emphasized that “business-as-usual is leading to America’s bankruptcy, so we urgently require change.”
Both Lutnick and Bessent are among those being considered for the Treasury role during Trump’s upcoming administration. Although the president-elect has announced several key appointments, including Florida Senator Marco Rubio for Secretary of State and former Florida Representative Matt Gaetz as Attorney General, there remain critical positions to fill, such as the heads of the Education and Labor Departments, alongside Treasury. Many candidates are actively trying to enhance their appeal to Trump.
Bessent is often seen as the more traditional, business-centric candidate, expressing skepticism toward cryptocurrencies, while Lutnick has suggested that they could be leveraged for tax payments.
Musk’s comments surfaced as Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson visited Trump at Mar-a-Lago this weekend, where he was expected to meet with the president-elect. Following these discussions, Trump planned to attend the UFC heavyweight championship event at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Since his Election Day win, Trump has spent most of his time at Mar-a-Lago, aside from a quick trip to meet with President Joe Biden and address House Republicans. His Florida estate has been a hub for numerous galas and conservative events during the week.
Returning to Madison Square Garden is particularly significant for Trump, who experienced controversy at a rally last month when a comedian made derogatory remarks about Puerto Rico. Despite this, Trump enjoys frequent visits to New York, a city he called home for many years.
Over a lengthy friendship with Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White, Trump has remained heavily involved in UFC events. White organized a UFC fight at the Trump Taj Mahal, a former casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, back in 2001. Since then, Trump has regularly attended UFC matches, often accompanied by notable figures, including White, musician Kid Rock, and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.
During Trump’s first presidency, he and White starred in a promotional UFC video, with Trump humorously referred to as the “Combatant In Chief.”
As Trump has solidified his influence within the Republican Party over the past ten years, White’s political presence has also significantly increased. He has addressed Republican conventions in both 2016 and 2020 and spoke at the party’s gathering in Milwaukee this past July. White also rallied the crowd at Trump’s victory party shortly after the Election Day results came in.
“This is what happens when the machine goes after you,” White proclaimed at that event. “What you’ve witnessed over the past years represents what happens: they couldn’t stop him. He continues to push forward. He doesn’t give up.”
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