Former President Donald Trump plans to offer a job to his billionaire buddy Elon Musk if elected, Reuters reported on Monday.
His announcement followed a campaign event in York, Pennsylvania, where Reuters asked Trump about the $7,500 tax credit for electric vehicles. Trump said he would consider terminating it, and also be open to assigning a cabinet or advisory role to Musk, the Tesla Motors co-founder and CEO.
“He’s a very smart guy. I certainly would, if he would do it, I certainly would. He’s a brilliant guy,” Trump said.
Trump’s recent plans align with a two-hour interaction between the two billionaires last week on Musk’s social media platform.
“I think it would be great to just have a government efficiency commission that takes a look at these things and just ensures that taxpayer money…is spent in a good way,” Musk told Trump. “I’d be happy to help out on such a commission.”
The purpose of the suggested commission would be to cut government spending.
“You’re the greatest cutter,” Trump told Musk during their conversation last week. “I mean, I look at what you do. You walk in, you just say: ‘You want to quit?’ They go on strike ― I won’t mention the name of the company ― but they go on strike. And you say: ‘That’s okay, you’re all gone.’”