By “The View” co-host Whoopi Goldberg sparked debate Thursday by suggesting tech billionaire Elon Musk, not running mate JD Vance, serves as Donald Trump’s de facto vice president, highlighting growing questions about the Tesla founder’s unprecedented influence in the incoming administration.
“I believe Elon Musk is the actual vice president. Yes, I believe that,” Goldberg, 69, declared on the ABC daytime show, characterizing Vice President-elect Vance, 40, as merely “interim” while questioning why Musk hasn’t divested from X, the social media platform he acquired in 2022.
The comments follow two weeks of highly visible collaboration between Trump, 78, and Musk, who has participated in transition team meetings, joined calls with world leaders, and weighed in on administration staffing decisions. At Trump’s election night celebration, Musk and his young son X were included in Trump family photos at the president-elect’s request. Trump’s granddaughter later told Politico that Musk had achieved “uncle status” within the family circle.
Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt defended the relationship, telling Politico: “Elon Musk and President Trump are great friends and brilliant leaders working together to Make America Great Again. Elon Musk is a once in a generation businessman and our federal bureaucracy will certainly benefit from his ideas and efficiency.”
The president-elect has frequently praised Musk’s accomplishments, particularly in space technology. “Did you see the way that sucker landed today?” Trump said at an early October rally, referring to SpaceX rockets. “It only needs a paint job. That’s a lot cheaper than building a new one, right?” At another campaign event, he called Musk “one of our geniuses” who needs protection and care, noting “there aren’t too many of them.”
Trump recently appointed Musk, alongside entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, to lead his newly created Department of Government Efficiency. The pair’s relationship has grown increasingly close, with Musk joining Trump at a UFC match and family meals. “It’s a bromance,” one Mar-a-Lago resort member told Politico, “And they are having a blast.”
The expanding role of tech leadership in the incoming administration extends beyond Musk, as Trump continues to announce controversial cabinet selections, including television personality Dr. Oz as administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
