At AmericaFest 2024 in Phoenix, President-elect Donald Trump addressed swirling rumors about ceding his presidency to tech billionaire Elon Musk. Speaking to a lively crowd, Trump dismissed the claims with his trademark candor, joking, “I’m safe, you know why? He wasn’t born in this country.” The remark, referencing Musk’s South African origins, drew laughter and applause from the audience.
Rumors had gained traction in some media outlets, but Trump dismissed them outright. “They’re on a new kick,” he said. “All the different hoaxes. The new one is that President Trump has ceded the presidency to Elon Musk. No, no, that’s not happening,” Bloomberg quoted Trump as saying.
Despite the speculation, Trump praised Musk, a significant donor to his campaign, for his intelligence and contributions. “Isn’t it nice to have smart people we can rely on? Don’t we want that? But no, he’s not going to be president, that I can tell you,” Trump reiterated.
Musk’s growing influence in Washington
Musk, whose companies heavily interact with federal regulations and contracts, has become a polarizing figure in US policymaking. His influence was evident last week when the Republican-controlled House passed legislation, avoiding a government shutdown, a move attributed partly to Musk’s efforts.
Trump recently appointed Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency, a temporary agency headquartered at SpaceX’s Washington office.
A controversial agenda
In his first rally-style appearance since winning the 2024 election, Trump unveiled a sweeping agenda. Promising to rebuild urban centers, cut taxes, and increase wages, he declared January 20 as “liberation day.”
On cultural issues, Trump called for a “commonsense revolution” and condemned progressive policies. “Woke needs to come to an end. It’s ruining our nation,” he said, vowing to remove critical race theory and transgender policies from schools and military settings.
Trump also pledged to address “transgender madness” on his first day in office, promising executive orders to ban transgender Americans from military service and women’s sports. “With the stroke of my pen, on day one, I will stop the transgender lunacy,” he declared.
Concluding with familiar flourish
Trump ended the rally with his signature phrase, “Together we will fight, fight, fight, and together we will win, win, win!” The event concluded with Trump dancing to the Village People’s “YMCA,” a hallmark of his campaign appearances, as supporters cheered.