In November 2024, Donald Trump finalized most of the cabinet appointments for his second administration. Elon Musk was chosen as the head of the newly established "Ministry of Government Efficiency." Alongside fellow businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, Musk will lead the ministry starting in 2025.
The Ministry of Government Efficiency aims to reduce unnecessary federal spending. This agency, which Trump mentioned during his election campaign, seeks to cut approximately $2 trillion from the current national budget of nearly $7 trillion. "They will dismantle bureaucracy, eliminate excessive regulations, reduce wasteful expenditures, and pave the way for reorganizing federal agencies," Trump expressed his expectations for Musk, his newly appointed cabinet member.

Although Musk had previously voted for the Democratic Party, he was considered politically centrist. During Trump’s previous administration, he was invited to serve as an advisor but declined the offer, later emphasizing publicly that he would not respond to donation requests from any political party. Musk often made statements that were at odds with Trump, and he was critical of the January 2021 Capitol riot involving Trump supporters.
However, under the Biden administration, Musk experienced cold treatment, such as not being invited to the White House EV Summit. This environment may have influenced Musk’s perspective. While he had been critical of strict border policies that blocked entry from abroad, in 2023, he personally visited the U.S.-Mexico border and commented on X, "Went to the Eagle Pass border crossing to see what’s really going on." Since then, he has continued to voice concerns about immigration issues under the Biden administration.

In 2024, contact between Trump and Musk increased, with the two exchanging ideas on various topics such as politics, technology, and freedom of speech through meetings and phone calls. Musk gradually solidified his support for Trump, and in July, he explicitly endorsed him in a post on X, stating, "I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery."
After July 2024, Musk began actively supporting Trump, donating $75 million to Trump's support groups. At a rally in Pennsylvania, Musk appeared wearing a black hat with "MAGA" written on it and declared, "I’m not just a MAGA supporter, I’m a stronger, Dark MAGA!" He urged attendees to vote for Trump. In response to Musk’s speech, Trump praised Musk’s various ventures and his character.

Through the presidential campaign, the relationship between Musk and Trump deepened. In August 2024, during a live interview with Trump, Musk gave a positive response regarding an invitation to join the administration. In November 2024, it was reported that Musk also participated in a meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky, sparking interest in his influence on the upcoming U.S. administration.
Musk has been a revolutionary force in the automotive, space, and social media industries. He has achieved cost reductions, developed innovative technologies, and accelerated progress in various sectors. With Musk's involvement, how will the future of the U.S. government under Trump and the world at large change? It will be interesting to watch the evolution of their close relationship.