U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren Questions Elon Musk's Role with Trump Transition Team

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren has urged Donald Trump’s transition team to apply the same ethics standards to Elon Musk as to other team members, shedding light on Musk’s influential advisory position.

The billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, Musk has fostered a close connection with Trump since his July endorsement. He reportedly spent over a quarter-billion dollars supporting Trump, while maintaining investments in cryptocurrency and other sectors.

In a letter made public by her office on Tuesday, Warren expressed concern over Musk's significant private interests, arguing they pose a serious conflict with his role as Trump’s ‘unofficial co-president.’ She stated, "Currently, the American public has no way of knowing whether the advice that he is whispering to you in secret is good for the country – or merely good for his own bottom line."

Warren also highlighted Musk’s position as co-chair of the newly established advisory group, the "Department of Government Efficiency," emphasizing that despite not being a government employee, his conflicts of interest are substantial and require adherence to equivalent ethics standards.

The Trump transition team did not immediately comment. Trump, when questioned about Musk’s conflicts in a Time magazine interview, responded, "I think that Elon puts the country long before his company."

Historically, past presidents have included industrialists in efficiency commissions. However, project watchdog Executive Director Danielle Brian noted that Musk’s invested industries are nascent, meaning Trump’s regulatory decisions could significantly benefit Musk’s companies.

The Trump transition team announced an ethics pledge in November, promising to prevent both actual and apparent conflicts of interest among its members.

Musk’s task force seeks a major overhaul of the U.S. government, with a budget of $6.8 trillion for the previous fiscal year, proposing the termination of thousands of government jobs.

There are plans to eliminate a car-crash reporting requirement that contrasts with the interests of Musk’s Tesla.

Former Office of Government Ethics Director Walter Shaub warned that Musk's role could jeopardize national security and public safety, emphasizing that taxpayer funds should prioritize the American public rather than Musk’s interests.