Can Elon Musk Become US President? Donald Trump Responds

Former US President Donald Trump has firmly stated that Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, cannot become president of the United States due to constitutional requirements. Speaking at a Republican conference in Phoenix, Arizona, on Sunday, Trump addressed speculation about Musk's potential political future.

“He's not gonna be president, that I can tell you,” Trump remarked. He explained that Musk, who was born in South Africa, does not meet the constitutional requirement of being a natural-born US citizen to hold the presidency.

The comments came as Democrats criticized Musk’s prominent role in the incoming Trump administration, dubbing him "President Musk" for his significant influence. Musk is set to serve as Trump’s "efficiency czar," a role that has sparked debates about the power of unelected individuals in government.

Trump also dismissed the idea of ceding the presidency to Musk, assuring the audience, "No, no, that’s not happening."

Musk’s growing influence has drawn criticism not only from Democrats but also from Republicans. His recent opposition to a government funding proposal, expressed through numerous posts on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter), led to backlash. Many of the posts were criticized for being inaccurate, yet they managed to sway Republican lawmakers to reject a bipartisan funding agreement.

This opposition brought the United States to the brink of a government shutdown just days before Christmas. However, Congress managed to reach a last-minute agreement, preventing the disruption of essential government services.

As Musk continues to play a prominent role in Trump’s administration, questions about his political influence and the balance of power between elected and unelected individuals remain at the forefront of public discussion.