Elon Musk, the renowned CEO of electric vehicle giant, Tesla Motors, and aerospace manufacturer and space transportation entity, SpaceX, has landed in a new, peculiar role. According to insider sources at Mar-a-Lago, Musk’s burgeoning bond with President-elect Donald Trump is starting to perturb members of Trump’s tight-knit inner circle. It seems the tech titan’s growing influence within the Trump Camp is spawning an unexpected frenzy and jealousy.
The billionaire magnate gained global prominence with his audacious ambitions to redefine transportation within Earth and space. Having Trump’s ear might be another grand step in securing the support and cooperation he needs for his visionary undertakings. However, reports suggest that the warm relationship between these two influential figures has started to unsettle some of Trump’s closest advisers. A source described Musk’s influence as “unsettling,” for the inner circle, saying that “there are concerns about just how much sway he holds over Trump.”
Interestingly enough, the thread of jealousy running through the inner circle seems to skip over one prominent member – First Lady Melania Trump. The sources reported that despite the unease Musk’s rising influence has stirred among Trump’s advisers, Melania is fond of the innovative entrepreneur. However, the reasons behind her likely admiration for Musk remain unclear.
Musk’s close relationship with Trump has been in the public eye since their early interactions over Trump’s advisory councils. Following Trump’s election victory, Musk, who initially criticised Trump during the campaign for his stance on climate change, joined Trump’s Strategic and Policy Forum and Tech Council. His early engagement with the new administration was aimed at influencing climate policy positively.
Despite the early criticism of Trump, Musk has demonstrated pragmatism by trying to find common ground with the President-elect. Often tweeting about his policy discussions with Trump, Musk has praised his approaches to infrastructure, manufacturing, and job creation, while pushing for policies favourable to renewable energy and electric vehicles.
This relationship could provide a range of opportunities for Musk, especially regarding his SpaceX’s goals. However, with these opportunities comes a high level of jealousy and unease from Trump’s inner circle, concerned perhaps about the growing rapport between Trump and Musk.
The Trump inner circle is known to be a closely guarded collection of advisers, family members, and confidants. It thus does not come as a surprise that Musk’s apparent ease of access to Trump could unsettle longstanding members of this circle. Musk’s influence is apparently sparking concerns among those closest to Trump about potential favouritism in policy making, especially in areas such as infrastructure and renewable energy.
Despite the eruption of jealousy, Musk’s objective of fostering a relationship with Trump has always been clear – influencing policies related to climate change, renewable energy, and space exploration. Regardless of the envious glances from the inner circle, it seems Musk’s growing influence is not only undeniable but potentially beneficial. From the viewpoint of technology and innovation, Musk’s relevance and voice could serve to encourage progressive changes in the Trump administration’s policy formulation, even in the face of arising jealousies.
