Trump: Musk probably too busy to serve in Cabinet, but could ‘consult’

Former President Trump said Tesla CEO Elon Musk would probably be too busy to serve in his Cabinet if he wins the election in November but suggested the billionaire tech mogul could “consult.” 

“He wants to be involved. Now, look, he’s running big businesses and all that, so, he can’t really — I don’t think he’d be [free] for the Cabinet,” Trump said in an interview on the “Shawn Ryan Show.” 

“I’d put him in the Cabinet, absolutely, but I don’t know how he could do that with all the things he’s got going,” he continued. “But he could sort of, as the expression goes, consult with the country and give you some very good ideas.” 

Trump pointed to Musk’s knowledge of artificial intelligence (AI). Musk owns the AI startup xAI and has sought to incorporate the technology at Tesla. 

The former president previously suggested that he would consider the Tesla CEO for a role in his Cabinet. 

Musk, who also owns the social platform X, formerly known as Twitter, endorsed Trump in the presidential race and backed a super PAC supporting the former president’s bid.

“He’s a very smart guy. I certainly would, if he would do it, I certainly would. He’s a brilliant guy,” Trump said of Musk in an interview with Reuters last week, when asked about appointing him to a potential Cabinet or similar role.

During a two-hour conversation between Trump and Musk on X earlier this month, Musk also said he would be willing to serve on a government commission to study the national debt and congressional spending. 

“I think it would be great to just have a government efficiency commission that looks at these things to make sure taxpayer money is spent in a good way,” he told the former president. “I’d be happy to help out on such a commission.” 

Trump is currently trailing Vice President Harris by 3.7 percent in the 2024 race, according to The Hill-Decision Desk HQ polling average. Harris became the Democratic nominee after President Biden dropped out of the race last month.