President-elect Donald Trump dismissed rumors of Elon Musk possibly becoming president, quipping, “No, he’s not going to be president, that I can tell you.” He made the comment during his first major post-election speech at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest in Phoenix on Sunday.
Trump, who was addressing a cheering crowd, added, “And I’m safe. You know why? He can’t be. He wasn’t born in this country.” He followed up by praising Musk, the South African-born CEO of Tesla, as a “great guy,” but firmly stated that he remains in charge.
The remark came as Trump took aim at critics who have used Musk to challenge his authority. Democrats have tried to paint Musk, the world’s richest person, as a powerful influence on Republicans, claiming he undermines Trump’s control.
Trump’s comments followed a tense few days in Washington. Just days earlier, both Trump and Musk were involved in a standoff over government spending, which created turmoil as Congress scrambled to avert a government shutdown. Some congressional Democrats expressed concerns over Musk’s sway with Republicans, even mocking Trump by suggesting Musk was the true leader, with the Lincoln Project releasing a video calling Trump “vice president” to “President Musk.”
In response to the growing speculation, Republicans rallied behind Trump, dismissing the idea of Musk outshining him. Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s incoming White House press secretary, countered claims of a power shift, stating, “President Trump is the leader of the Republican Party. Full stop.”
During his speech, Trump laughed off the “hoaxes,” including the latest one alleging he had “ceded the presidency” to Musk. “No, no. That’s not happening,” he told the crowd.
Meanwhile, Musk continues to play an active political role, recently committing over $260 million to support Republican candidates for the 2024 election. He also announced plans to back moderate primary challengers to Democratic incumbents. Some Republicans have even suggested Musk for the position of Speaker of the House, as uncertainty grows around the future of current Speaker Mike Johnson.
Trump’s Arizona speech, lasting over an hour, was a familiar victory lap. He boasted of winning the popular vote, praised his upcoming Cabinet picks, and outlined bold goals for his presidency, including tax cuts and reclaiming the Panama Canal. He also reiterated his opposition to “woke” policies in the military, vowing not to rename military bases under his administration.
