By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-01-15 10:32:57 | Updated at 2025-01-15 14:08:22
3 hours ago
One of the world's richest men will soon occupy an office at the White House, after President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated next week.
Billionaire Elon Musk has been granted office space at the White House, according to the New York Times citing people briefed on the plans.
Musk was appointed by Trump to run a Department of Government Efficiency to scrutinize federal spending along with former presidential candidate tech entrepreneur Trump booster Vivek Ramaswamy.
The position will not be in the actual White House building, however, but rather in the large Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex.
Only a select few of Trump's staff actually work in the West Wing of the White House.
But Musk's physical proximity to Trump could still be close enough to allow him to further influence the president, if he decides to cross the street.
Musk, who has embraced the title 'First Buddy' of Trump, donated millions to the president-elect's campaign efforts and has spent a great deal of time with him since the election.
Democrats are furious at Musk's proximity to the president, frequently branding him as Trump's 'co-president' because of his cozy relationship with Trump.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk watch the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket
The Eisenhower Executive Office Building is on the White House complex, but across the street from the actual Oval Office
Trump and Musk traveled together to view a rocket launch with his entourage, as part of an event encouraging the growth of the space industry.
News of Musk's office at the White House breaks just as former Trump strategist and senior counselor Steve Bannon said he would work to keep Musk away from Trump's second term White House.
'He will not have a blue pass to the White House, he will not have full access to the White House, he will be like any other person,' Bannon said, describing the tech billionaire as 'a truly evil guy.'
Bannon commented on Musk in an interview with Italian news outlet Corriere della Sera.
Elon Musk speaks with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and guests at a viewing of the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship
Steve Bannon, former advisor to former U.S. President and now President-elect Donald Trump,
The one-time Trump allies clashed recently over a debate about H-1B visas, which offering legal status for foreigners who want to work in the United States, primarily for tech companies.
Critics of H-1B visas argue that skilled Americans should get tech jobs over foreign workers.
Bannon vowed he would emerge victorious over Musk and his fellow tech moguls.
'We have been fighting this fight for ten years,' Bannon said. 'We are going to expose the entire corruption of the American system, of how money controls everything and hopefully we'll inspire you in Italy to wake up,' he said.
