Trump Oversees Elon Musk’s Advisory Role to Prevent Misuse
Washington, D.C. – President Donald Trump has assured the public that he is personally monitoring tech billionaire Elon Musk to ensure he does not abuse his cost-cutting role within the government. Trump made the statement in response to reporters’ questions in the Oval Office.
The White House had previously maintained that Musk is solely responsible for managing any potential conflicts of interest. Musk, the founder and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, was appointed to an advisory position in the government.
Trump again dismissed concerns that Musk could leverage his government position to benefit his companies. "Number one, he’s not going to do anything," Trump said. "And number two, we wouldn’t let him do anything that would be a conflict of interest."
Musk Meets with Indian Prime Minister
Meanwhile, Musk held a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington. Photographs shared on Musk’s Twitter account show them seated in front of the flags of both countries.
One of the photos reveals that chairs on Modi’s side of the room were occupied by members of his delegation, while several children with two chaperones sat opposite them. When asked about the meeting, Trump said he was unsure whether Musk met Modi as a representative of the U.S. government or as an entrepreneur. "I assume he wants to do business in India," Trump added.
Concern Raised Over Tesla Purchase
Earlier, the inclusion of a $400 million purchase order for Tesla in the U.S. Department of State’s procurement forecast raised concerns. The entry initially specified armored electric vehicles from Tesla, but a State Department spokesperson clarified that the document should have only referred to such vehicles in general. The entry was subsequently amended to reflect this. The department emphasized that no plans are currently in place to launch a tender for the purchase.
The Tesla mention, first reported by the Drop Site News blog, sparked attention given Musk’s government role. Tesla reported its first decline in sales for more than a decade in 2022, making large government contracts potentially lucrative.
Musk’s "Doge" Team Targets Waste and Fraud
Musk’s advisory team, named Doge (Department of Government Efficiency), is currently reviewing U.S. government agencies, claiming to have uncovered billions of dollars in waste and fraud. Some of Musk’s claims have been proven false, and no written documentation has been released.
The State Department explained that the entry in the spending plan originated from a directive by the Biden administration to gauge industry interest in supplying armored vehicles for the department. Only one manufacturer responded, which allegedly explains how Tesla’s name entered the forecast in December. According to the document, the department also plans to purchase armored vehicles from BMW for $40 million.
Speculation Surrounding Tesla Purchase
The disclosure of the Tesla entry led to speculation that its large "Cybertruck" electric pickup would be the ideal vehicle for the role. Since Tesla does not manufacture armored vehicles, a significant portion of any contract would likely go to companies specializing in such modifications. Musk has claimed in the past that the steel in "Cybertruck" bodies was thick enough to deflect bullets from certain firearms.
