Musk Prioritizes ‘America First’ Over His Own Businesses – One America News Network
OAN Staff James Meyers
2:28 PM – Thursday, December 12, 2024
47th President-elect Donald Trump reassured the nation that Elon Musk is committed to “putting America first” as he heads the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) alongside Vivek Ramaswamy in the Trump administration.
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Trump expressed these views during an interview for Time Magazine’s 2024 “Person of the Year” cover story, highlighting that Musk prioritizes national interests over his business ventures.
“He views this as his most significant initiative, and he is eager to undertake it,” Trump stated regarding Musk, who, along with Vivek Ramaswamy, leads the non-governmental Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
“I believe he is one of the very few individuals with the credibility to carry this out, placing the country ahead of his company, a fact I’ve witnessed,” Trump added.
Trump addressed the potential conflicts of interest that may arise from Musk’s role in his administration, given that Musk’s wealth stems from his businesses, SpaceX and Tesla. This raises the possibility that Trump’s decisions could impact Musk’s enterprises as well as their competitors.
According to the New York Times, SpaceX and Tesla have secured over $15 billion in government contracts over the last decade. Last year alone, Musk’s companies were awarded nearly $3 billion, encompassing around 100 contracts across 17 federal agencies.
Tesla has agreements with various government bodies, including the Departments of Energy, State, and Transportation.
NASA also collaborates with SpaceX on Falcon 9 rocket-related matters and involves SpaceX in ongoing anomaly investigations. Furthermore, the Defense Department relies on SpaceX for satellite launches.
Musk has suggested potential reductions to NASA, which may impact SpaceX, but Trump indicated to Time that the U.S. is “overloaded with rules, regulations, and, frankly, unnecessary personnel.”
“We aim to transition many individuals into private sector roles where they can excel and contribute more effectively,” he stated. “We anticipate some interesting developments in the coming months. We’ll observe the outcomes. However, this nation is indeed bloated.”
“Many actions can be taken without congressional approval,” he added. “While significant cuts may be more challenging to implement, there are numerous things we can accomplish without Congress.”
Meanwhile, Musk’s net worth has soared in his close alliance with Trump.
Tesla shares have surged by 69% since Election Day, while SpaceX’s valuation has increased by 70%. Additionally, the valuation of X has also risen.
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