Musk as 'Co-President'? ... Aides Furious Over Involvement in Appointments

Trump's Closest Ally Becomes CEO Musk
‘Bessent Likely’ Faces ‘Objection’ Over Treasury Secretary Position
Trump Aides Express Frustration

Yonhap News

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, is increasingly interfering in key appointments for the second Trump administration, reportedly irritating Donald Trump’s incoming aides, according to The Washington Post (WP) on the 17th (local time).

According to WP, Musk has been publicly expressing his opinions on candidates for appointments in the second Trump administration, putting pressure on Trump’s team. With most major appointments for the second Trump administration already announced, political circles and the media in the U.S. are closely watching who will be appointed as Treasury Secretary. Until now, Scott Bessent, founder of the hedge fund Key Square Group, has been widely mentioned as a leading candidate in U.S. political and media circles.

However, Musk stirred up a two-way contest by recommending Howard Lutnick, CEO of investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald, for the Treasury Secretary position via X (formerly Twitter) the day before. Musk positively evaluated Lutnick as “someone who can actually bring about change,” while belittling Bessent as “the usual choice.”

The Treasury Secretary plays a key role in implementing Trump’s major economic pledges, such as raising tariffs and holding Bitcoin. Bessent, on the 15th, defended tariff increases on conservative media Fox News, and in a Wall Street Journal op-ed on the 10th, criticized the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), signaling alignment with Trump’s economic policy plans.

In this context, WP analyzed that news of Musk supporting Lutnick could significantly amplify fears that Musk is playing a central role in personnel and policy decisions within the Trump administration. It added, “Several Trump insiders were shocked that Musk publicly pushed his preferred candidate while Trump was still weighing the Treasury Secretary decision.” A source in contact with Trump’s campaign staff told WP, “Musk is acting like a ‘co-president’ and may be exceeding his new role beyond Trump’s orbit.”

Musk, who contributed over $100 million to Trump’s campaign, has been attending meetings with foreign leaders and transition teams since Trump’s election. He has also emerged as one of Trump’s closest aides by spending time with Trump’s grandchildren at Mar-a-Lago golf course and watching UFC events at Madison Square Garden in New York with Trump and his associates.

Additionally, Trump aides are reportedly watching with narrowed eyes after Musk publicly praised on X a post stating that Argentine President Javier Milei decided to lower tariffs, calling it a “good move.” Since tariff reductions in other countries could help reduce the U.S. trade deficit, this is a move Trump would welcome. However, Trump’s aides reportedly do not view this positively either, seeing it as another attempt by Musk to impose his views on economic policy, WP reported.