Elon Musk joined Trump's call with Zelenskyy, showing the Tesla CEO's new influence after spending at least $119 million on the campaign
- Elon Musk reportedly joined Trump's calls with two world leaders, including Zelenskyy.
- It's an early indicator of just how close Musk is with the incoming president.
Elon Musk joined President-elect Donald Trump's calls with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan this week, according to several reports.
The New York Times reported on Friday that Trump handed the phone to Musk during a phone call with Zelenskyy on Wednesday, when both men were at Mar-a-Lago. Axios reported that Musk told the Ukrainian leader that he would continue to support the besieged country via his Starlink satellites.
That same day, Musk was present for a call between Trump and Erdogan, which took place while Trump was "at a family dinner" with the billionaire businessman and his child, according to Reuters.
Musk's reported presence on the calls underscores just how close the tech billionaire is with the incoming president, whom he spent more than $119 million to help elect. Beyond supporting Trump's campaign financially, Musk joined the president-elect at rallies and held solo town halls.
Throughout the campaign, Musk made aspects of his governmental vision clear. He proposed creating a Department of Government Efficiency — or "DOGE," named after the cryptocurrency — to review federal spending. Trump has agreed to put Musk, whom he called an "amazing guy" in his acceptance speech, in charge of the future department.
With his new proximity to the Oval Office, Musk has a lot to gain professionally. In his potential role as the head of DOGE, he would oversee some of the very agencies that regulate his businesses, including Tesla and SpaceX. Tech leaders across Silicon Valley see much to gain from Musk's new Washington ties, as they hope the billionaire will encourage Trump to slash regulation.
Spokespeople for Trump and Musk did not immediately respond to requests for comment.