Not so long ago, information appeared in the media that Donald Trump allegedly "ceded the presidency" to Elon Musk. This caused a firestorm of discussion in political circles and among Trump supporters. However, the US president-elect himself denied these rumors, stating that they are not true, and Musk cannot become the US president due to the requirements of the Constitution.
In an interview with NBC News, Trump said that such claims are "fiction", explaining that Musk, although he has great influence in the business environment, is not eligible to claim the presidency because of his place of birth. "He will not become the president, I will tell you that. And I'm safe. Do you know why he can't become one? He wasn't born in this country," Trump commented, pointing out that Musk was born in South Africa, and there is a requirement for a US presidential candidate to be born in the country.
Trump's comments came in response to attacks from his political opponents, who accused him that Musk, the billionaire founder of Tesla and SpaceX, is allegedly gaining more and more influence over political decision-making in the United States. In particular, these objections intensified after Musk publicly spoke out against a bipartisan bill on government funding, which significantly delayed the budget adoption process. Musk, in his message on X (formerly Twitter), said that "a government shutdown, which, by the way, does not stop the operation of important functions of the state, is clearly better than the adoption of this terrible bill." His position caused a mixed reaction in political circles.
Not only politicians, but also people from Trump's circle began to express concern about Musk's activity. According to the media, the billionaire not only tries to promote his views, but also actively tries to influence the decisions of Trump's staff by promoting his people to him. This gives rise to suspicions of "usurpation of power" by Musk. The media also recently reported that Musk is annoying relatives from Trump's entourage. At the same time, Musk himself, although he does not maintain ties with relatives in Great Britain, proudly recalls his late grandmother, who was born in Liverpool, as an important figure in his life.
Thus, although Elon Musk continues to actively influence political processes in the USA, his role in the future political situation should not endanger the position of Donald Trump. Constitutional restrictions related to place of birth leave Musk with limited options for claims to the US presidency, which Trump himself emphasized in his latest statement. At the same time, the businessman's influence on the country's politics is becoming more and more visible, and this may become an important factor in the development of the US political landscape.
