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How Elon Musk Is Influencing Donald Trump
The New York Times ^ | Sept. 6, 2024, 12:21 p.m. ET | Ryan Mac, Theodore Schleifer and Maggie Haberman

Posted on 09/06/2024 1:21:37 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum

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.

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 government” and “make recommendations for drastic reforms,” Mr. Trump said.

The announcement capped weeks of discussions between Mr. Trump and Mr. Musk, who have bonded over a mutual hobbyhorse of eliminating wasteful spending, three people close to the men said. Mr. Trump has told Mr. Musk that he wants the tech entrepreneur to slash the federal government’s costs, just as he did at his social media company X, one of the people said.

Mr. Musk, the world’s richest man, has started to influence Mr. Trump as the Republican presidential nominee heads into November’s election. That the tech mogul has the ear of the candidate throws open what each can get out of an alliance — and creates a potential minefield. Their political friendship is particularly tricky because Mr. Musk has a sprawling set of businesses, which may present conflicts of interest if Mr. Trump is elected.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Humor
KEYWORDS: fakenews; maggiehaberman; musk; newyorkslimes; r; ryanmac; tds; theodoreschleifer; threeauthors; trump
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To: desertsolitaire

Yes.

His history.

Specifically, no. But they should not have these obvious conflicts.


21 posted on 09/06/2024 2:45:00 PM PDT by Fuzz
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

LOL. The NYT comes out against government efficiency if the wrong kind of people are for it.


22 posted on 09/06/2024 2:57:55 PM PDT by ModelBreaker
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

It’s not like he is George Soros!


23 posted on 09/06/2024 3:37:33 PM PDT by TonyM (Score Event)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
Okay, NYTs... Now do George Clooney’s influence, especially on taking down the president a month ago.

Any conflict of interest for him?

24 posted on 09/06/2024 3:51:57 PM PDT by Alas Babylon! (Repeal the Patriot Act; Abolish the DHS; reform FBI top to bottom!)
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To: metmom

That’s because the rat party is nothing but a pack of hypocrites.


25 posted on 09/06/2024 4:11:50 PM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

So Soros vast amount of businesses ARE NOT a mine field for the democrats elected, ONLY GOES ONE WAY with these bastards!!


26 posted on 09/06/2024 4:14:16 PM PDT by Trump Girl Kit Cat (Yosemite Sam raising hell)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

More slime from the New York Slimes


27 posted on 09/06/2024 4:18:34 PM PDT by antidemoncrat
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

audit the entire federal government. Music to my ears - and it probably has the grifters shaking in their boots.


28 posted on 09/06/2024 4:31:54 PM PDT by enumerated (81 million votes my ass)
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To: Fuzz

Duh.


29 posted on 09/06/2024 4:32:57 PM PDT by enumerated (81 million votes my ass)
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To: No name given

THAT’S an understatement.


30 posted on 09/06/2024 5:44:51 PM PDT by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus”)
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To: Fuzz

As Trump admitted during debate with Hillary that he knew the system was corrupt because he used the system, wouldn’t it make sense for someone who has benefited from billions in taxpayer money be the one who knows how messed up it is and reform it. Like him or not, he doesn’t come across as someone trying to make himself richer at this point, so his own self interest are more than likely second place to turning this country around. Just a thought.


31 posted on 09/06/2024 11:21:12 PM PDT by pghbjugop
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To: pghbjugop

One can’t make money in a depressed world. If people have no work, streets are unsafe—they will not buy your products—People in business know this.


32 posted on 09/06/2024 11:29:21 PM PDT by Forward the Light Brigade (. War is Hell, War IS a Crime.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

...who have bonded over a mutual hobbyhorse of eliminating wasteful spending...
~~~~~~~~~

Eliminating government waste is a “hobbyhorse” to these people.


33 posted on 09/06/2024 11:45:50 PM PDT by Yardstick
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To: Fuzz

Thanks for your considered opinion. I would be frustrated if we have a key genius level influencer and entrepreneur here, in Musk, and somehow cannot use his expertise because.......
And he already is supporting President Trump and wants to help.


34 posted on 09/08/2024 11:55:29 AM PDT by desertsolitaire ( )
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