How Elon Musk Is Influencing Donald Trump - The New York Times

Their fast-evolving political friendship has become a potential minefield, as Mr. Musk’s sprawling businesses may present conflicts of interest if Mr. Trump is elected in November. By Ryan MacTheodore Schleifer and Maggie Haberman Ryan Mac reports on tech accountability. Theodore Schleifer and Maggie Haberman are covering the 2024 presidential campaigns. In a live-streamed conversation on X with former President Donald J. Trump last month, Elon Musk raised the idea of a “government efficiency commission.” Such a council could ensure that taxpayers’ money was “spent in a good way,” Mr. Musk said during their more-than-two-hour talk. “I’d love it,” Mr. Trump replied. On Thursday, Mr. Trump followed up on Mr. Musk’s suggestion. In a speech at the Economic Club of New York, Mr. Trump said he planned to appoint Mr. Musk, who leads Tesla, SpaceX and X, as the head of a new government efficiency commission if he was elected president in November. The commission would audit the “entire federal

Their fast-evolving political friendship has become a potential minefield, as Mr. Musk’s sprawling businesses may present conflicts of interest if Mr. Trump is elected in November. By Ryan MacTheodore Schleifer and Maggie Haberman Ryan Mac reports on tech accountability. Theodore Schleifer and Maggie Haberman are covering the 2024 presidential campaigns. In a live-streamed conversation on X with former President Donald J. Trump last month, Elon Musk raised the idea of a “government efficiency commission.” Such a council could ensure that taxpayers’ money was “spent in a good way,” Mr. Musk sai