Elon Musk’s long-standing ambition to send humans to Mars received a notable endorsement from the newly inaugurated president. During his inaugural speech, President Donald Trump declared his commitment to “pursue our manifest destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts who plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars.”
Musk, who was present at the event, could hardly conceal his excitement as he celebrated the announcement, raising his fists in the air in jubilation.
This moment vividly highlighted the intriguing alliance that Musk, a billionaire known for his significant federal contracts, has formed with the current president. Throughout the inaugural festivities, Musk expressed admiration for Trump, aligning himself with the president’s vision of an upcoming “golden age” for the nation.
“It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured,” Musk communicated to supporters during a rally at Capital One Arena shortly after the inauguration. Additionally, he shared his endorsement of Trump’s second-term ambitions on his social media platform, X, referring to him as “The Return of the King.”
Inside the Capitol Rotunda, Musk found himself in a seating arrangement that included other influential figures from the tech industry, such as Sundar Pichai of Google and Mark Zuckerberg of Meta. Positioned closest to Trump, Musk caught the attention of the camera multiple times, especially when Trump’s youngest son, Barron, exchanged greetings with him. The night was marked by a warm embrace between Trump and Musk, further solidifying their relationship.
Musk has significantly backed Trump’s political endeavors, contributing around $200 million to America PAC, a super PAC aimed at garnering support for Trump during the previous election season. The presence of various billionaire figures around the new administration has prompted concerns from former President Joe Biden, who has cautioned against the rise of an oligarchic influence stemming from wealthy tech moguls in the U.S. government.
Tasked with several initiatives by Trump, Musk is collaborating with former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy on a venture known as the Department of Government Efficiency. The group’s objective is to minimize federal regulations, bureaucracy, and overall spending. Musk has previously proposed cutting $2 trillion from the federal budget, a daunting target that might implicate entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare, and necessitate large-scale layoffs within the federal workforce. During a recent public discussion, Musk suggested that achieving such significant reductions might be challenging, hinting that $1 trillion could be a more feasible goal.
In the aftermath of the election, Musk has frequently visited Trump’s resort in Palm Beach, Florida, engaging in discussions and meetings concerning potential Cabinet appointments and international leadership. He has also been linked to undermining a bipartisan government funding initiative last month, partly through disseminating misleading information on X, which has seen a resurgence in conspiracy theories and unfounded claims since his acquisition of the platform nearly three years ago. This prevalence of misinformation has raised alarm about its potential impact on public opinion, especially with Musk’s connections to the Trump administration.
In a spirited address at the rally later that evening, Musk could hardly contain his eagerness for the journey ahead. “Man, I can’t wait,” he exclaimed enthusiastically. “This is going to be fantastic.”
