SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has long been fixated on getting humans to Mars. On Monday, that vision received a strong endorsement from the newly inaugurated president, reports AP.
In his inaugural address, President Donald Trump vowed to “pursue our manifest destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts who plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars.” Musk, standing nearby, grinned broadly and celebrated enthusiastically.
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This moment highlighted the unconventional alliance between Musk, the billionaire tech mogul with lucrative federal contracts, and Trump, whose partnership was prominently showcased throughout the day's events.
Musk publicly praised Trump at a rally following the inauguration, echoing the president's promise of an impending "golden age" for the nation.
“It is thanks to you that the future of civilisation is assured,” Musk told the crowd at Capital One Arena.
On X, Musk expressed his support for Trump’s return to office with a post reading: “The Return of the King.”
During the Capitol Rotunda ceremony, Musk was seated prominently among other tech leaders, including Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, behind Trump’s family but closest to the president. At one point, Trump’s youngest son, Barron, greeted Musk with a handshake, a moment visible in televised coverage.
Musk's alignment with Trump follows his significant financial backing of America PAC, contributing approximately $200 million to the pro-Trump organisation during last year's campaign.
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The inclusion of numerous billionaires in Trump’s administration has sparked criticism, with former President Joe Biden warning of an emerging oligarchy dominated by tech moguls.
Trump has tasked Musk with collaborating on a project called the Department of Government Efficiency, working alongside former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. The initiative, which operates outside formal government structures, aims to drastically reduce federal bureaucracy, regulations, and spending. Musk previously set a $2 trillion target for these cuts, though he has since acknowledged that achieving such a figure may be unrealistic.
“If you aim for $2 trillion, I think we can at least get to $1 trillion,” Musk said during a Q&A session on X with pollster Mark Penn.
Since the election, Musk has frequented Trump’s Florida resort and participated in meetings with potential Cabinet members and global leaders.
However, Musk's relationship with some of Trump's allies has been less harmonious. Steve Bannon, a conservative podcaster and former campaign adviser, has criticised Musk’s support for immigration visa programmes, which he claims conflict with Trump’s “America First” agenda. In a recent interview, Bannon declared his intent to challenge Musk’s influence, stating, “We’ll have Elon Musk run out of here.”
Additionally, Musk faced backlash from Republican lawmakers after his platform, X, played a role in derailing a bipartisan government funding proposal last month. His dissemination of false claims on X, which has faced criticism for abandoning misinformation safeguards, has raised concerns about its potential to sway public opinion, particularly given Musk's ties to the Trump administration.
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At the rally, Musk expressed enthusiasm for Trump’s second term, declaring, “Man, I can’t wait. This is going to be fantastic.”