Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, has had a long-standing goal of sending humans to Mars, a vision that received a robust endorsement from the newly inaugurated president on Monday. In his inaugural address, 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 nearby, expressed his excitement with visible enthusiasm, celebrating the moment as a significant endorsement of his ambitions.
This event highlighted the unique collaboration that has developed between Musk and the incoming president, particularly as Musk has secured significant contracts from the federal government. Throughout the inauguration, Musk consistently praised Trump, echoing his vision of an upcoming “golden age” for the United States during a post-inaugural rally at Capital One Arena. He assured the crowd, “It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured.”
Musk showcased his support for Trump on his social media platform, X, with a post that read, “The Return of the King.” During the inauguration, he was seated among other influential tech figures such as Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Musk’s close proximity to Trump, who was accompanied by his family, allowed him to stand out, particularly when Trump’s youngest son, Barron, greeted him with a handshake during the ceremony.
Musk has also been financially supportive of Trump’s political endeavors, contributing around $200 million to America PAC, a super political action committee aimed at fostering Trump’s support during the previous election cycle. The presence of numerous wealthy individuals near Trump’s administration has prompted former President Joe Biden to express concerns about a potential oligarchy of tech billionaires emerging in the U.S.
One of the initiatives Trump has tasked Musk with involves collaborating with former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy on establishing a Department of Government Efficiency. This advisory group’s objective is to streamline federal bureaucracy, reduce regulations, and cut spending, with Musk initially targeting a reduction of $2 trillion, which corresponds to the country’s deficit. Achieving such substantial cuts may necessitate significant changes to entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare, alongside substantial layoffs of federal employees. While Musk remains optimistic about potential cuts, he acknowledges that reaching the $2 trillion target might prove challenging, suggesting a more realistic goal of $1 trillion during a recent session on X with pollster Mark Penn.
Since the elections, Musk has maintained an active presence in Trump’s circle, frequently visiting his resort in Palm Beach, Florida, engaging in discussions concerning prospective Cabinet members and leaders from across the globe. However, their collaboration has not been devoid of friction, as tensions emerged with prominent Trump supporters like former campaign advisor Steve Bannon regarding Musk’s endorsement of immigration policies that benefit skilled foreign workers. Despite Musk’s close association with Trump, Bannon critiqued these policies for being inconsistent with the administration’s “America first” approach, even vowing to “have Elon Musk run out of here” in a recent interview abroad.
Musk also faced backlash from some Republican lawmakers when he played a role in derailing a bipartisan government funding plan. This controversy was amplified by his use of X, where he posted misleading information to his vast audience of over 200 million followers. Many have raised alarm about the lack of controls on misinformation on the platform and its potential implications for public sentiment, especially given Musk’s affiliations with the Trump administration.
During an enthusiastic rally speech later that day, Musk expressed his anticipation for Trump’s second term, stating emphatically, “Man, I can’t wait. This is going to be fantastic.” The intertwined destinies of Musk and Trump seem set to influence various sectors, particularly in technology and space exploration.
