As Trump Picks His Cabinet, Elon Musk Has An Advice For 47th President-Elect

Palm Beach: As President-elect Donald Trump makes a flurry of choices to fill out his incoming ministration's Cabinet, lobbying for key positions has been fierce behind closed doors — and sometimes publicly.

Now billionaire and key Trump ally Elon Musk is calling for more direct public input into decision-making process for at least one top post — he of Treasury Department.

“Would be interesting to hear more people weigh in on this for @realDonaldTrump to consider feedback," Musk, who Trump has alrey tapped to co-le a commission tasked with increasing government spending efficiency, posted Saturday on X social media platform he owns.

Musk n used rest of his post to become first participant in public poll he was proposing. He endorsed Howard Lutnick, CEO of financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald and co-chair of Trump's transition team ahe of Inauguration Day on Jan. 20, over hedge fund manager Scott Bessent.

Musk said in his post that “Bessent is a business-as-usual choice, whereas @howardlutnick will actually enact change." “Business-as-usual is driving America bankrupt, so we need change," he said.

Both Lutnick and Bessent have been mentioned as possible picks to le Treasury during Trump's second ministration.

president-elect has alrey announced many picks in recent days, including his choice for Secretary of State, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, and attorney general, former Florida Rep . Matt Gaetz. But he still has or important slots to fill, including hes of Education and Labor Departments — as well as Treasury — and many leing possibilities have been jockeying to improve ir standing with Trump.

Bessent is considered more conventional, business-friendly choice. He is skeptical about cryptocurrency, while Lutnick has suggested it could be used for people to pay ir taxes.

Musk's post came as Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson was at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, this weekend, and expected to meet with president-elect later Saturday. After that, Trump is set to he to Saturday night's UFC heavyweight championship fight between Stipe Miocic and Jon Jones at New York's Mison Square Garden.

Except for a day trip to Washington this week to meet for nearly two hours with President Joe Biden, and separately dress House Republicans, Trump has been spending his time since his Election Day victory at Mar-a-Lago, which has hosted galas and conservative events throughout week, A return to Mison Square Garden means revisiting place where a comedian caused an uproar at a Trump rally last month by likening Puerto Rico to a “floating island of garbage.” Yet Trump continues to relish visits to New York, where he lived for deces.

Trump also has been close to Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White for more than two deces.

White hosted a 2001 UFC battle at Trump Taj Mahal, a former casino-hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Trump has frequently attended UFC matches since – including during his 2024 campaign. Trump has turned up at fights recently with famous entourages, including White, musician Kid Rock and former Fox News Channel host Tucker Carlson.

In 2018, during Trump's first term, he and White starred in a UFC video where n-president was dubbed “Combatant In Chief.” As Trump has strengned his grip on national Republican Party over last near-dece, White's personal political profile has grown exponentially. White spoke at 2016 and 2020 Republican conventions, and when party gared in Milwaukee this past July. He also dressed crowd at Trump's Florida victory party in wee hours of morning after Election Day.

“This is what happens when machine comes after you,” White said n. “What you've seen over last several years, this is what it looks like: couldn't stop him. He keeps going forward. He doesn't quit.”