- Donald Trump said he would offer Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk a role in his administration if he defeats Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election.
- Trump, who is the Republican nominee, said he would consider eliminating a $7,500 tax credit for certain new electric vehicles.
- Tesla sells EVs.
Former President Donald Trump on Monday said he would offer Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk a Cabinet position or an advisory role in his administration if he wins a second term in the White House.
Trump told Reuters in an interview that he would tap Musk for such a position "if he would do it."
But the Republican nominee also said he would consider getting rid of a $7,500 tax credit for certain new electric vehicles. That could affect business for Tesla, which sells EVs.
"Tax credits and tax incentives are not generally a very good thing," Trump told Reuters after a campaign event in York, Pennsylvania.
Musk, in an apparently tongue-in-cheek reply on his social media platform X, said, "I am willing to serve."
Money Report
His Monday night post included a picture of himself standing at a lectern bearing the label "Department of Government Efficiency," and topped with the letters D.O.G.E.
The letters are a reference to a popular "doge" meme, which began mainly as a striking image of a Shiba Inu dog and later became the face of the cryptocurrency Dogecoin, which Musk has repeatedly promoted.
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Musk endorsed Trump in July, shortly after the former president narrowly survived an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in western Pennsylvania.
In an interview with Trump that was livestreamed on X on Aug. 12, Musk floated the idea of a "government efficiency commission" and said he would be "happy to help out" on it.
Trump is set to face Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, in November's election.