Elon Musk's Role After Trump's 2024 Victory: What's Next?

Now that Donald Trump has won the 2024 election with Elon Musk’s significant support, Musk’s next steps are likely to be shaped by his Enneagram Type 8 traits—The Challenger—and his desire to assert control and influence across various sectors. Here’s what Musk is likely to do moving forward:

1. Deepen His Political Influence

With Trump back in power, Musk will likely use this opportunity to deepen his political influence, particularly around key issues that align with his business interests and values. Musk has long been vocal about his concerns regarding free speech and censorship, especially after taking control of Twitter (now X), where he positioned himself as a defender of open discourse. Under Trump, Musk will likely push for policies that strengthen protections around free speech, both online and in public forums, ensuring that platforms like X can operate with minimal government interference.

Musk may also lobby for regulatory reforms that benefit innovation-driven companies, like Tesla and SpaceX, particularly in areas such as renewable energy and space exploration. Given his frustrations with regulatory hurdles and union pressures under the Biden administration, he will likely advocate for business-friendly policies that minimise government intervention and support innovation.

2. Expand His Business Ventures with Government Support

Musk has always been strategic in aligning his business ventures with prevailing political forces, and with Trump’s victory, he will likely leverage the administration’s business-friendly stance to expand Tesla, SpaceX, and other ventures. For instance, Musk’s frustration with the Biden administration’s exclusion of Tesla from the EV summit showed how political dynamics can affect his business operations [5]. Under Trump, Musk will likely push for incentives and government contracts that benefit his companies, particularly in the defence and space sectors where SpaceX plays a key role.

Additionally, Musk will likely continue positioning Tesla as the leader in electric vehicles, ensuring that the administration’s energy policies align with his vision for sustainable energy. With Trump’s administration possibly scaling back environmental regulations, Musk could advocate for policies that still promote clean energy but with fewer bureaucratic constraints.

3. Double Down on Free Speech and Media Influence

Musk has made it clear that he views platforms like X as crucial in promoting free speech and open discourse, and with Trump in power, he will likely double down on this mission. He has previously stated that X should act as a “town square that gives equal voice to the whole country” and that it should not be dominated by partisan politics. Now that Trump has won, Musk will likely use X to further promote these ideals, possibly pushing for legislation that protects social media companies from censorship lawsuits or government overreach.

Moreover, Musk’s influence in the media space could grow. He might take more aggressive steps to position X as a primary platform for political discourse, using his close ties with the administration to ensure that media regulations are favourable to his platform’s operations. Musk's Type 8 desire for control and influence will likely lead him to further establish X as a key player in shaping public opinion.

4. Strengthen His Relationship with the Republican Party

Musk’s continued alignment with the Republican Party, particularly under Trump, is likely to strengthen as he sees Trump’s administration as more aligned with his values of meritocracy and free-market principles. As Musk once expressed frustration with the Democratic Party’s policies on unions and their exclusion of Tesla from key discussions [5], he will likely find a more favorable environment under Trump to advocate for policies that benefit non-unionized companies like Tesla and SpaceX.

Musk may also take a more active role in shaping the Republican Party’s future direction, particularly around issues of technology, space exploration, and economic policy. His influence could extend to advising the administration on innovation policy or even taking on a more formal role in shaping the government’s tech strategy.

5. Continue Challenging the Status Quo

True to his Type 8 nature, Musk will likely continue challenging the status quo, both in business and politics. He has never shied away from taking bold, controversial stances, and with Trump in power, Musk may feel even more emboldened to push boundaries. Whether it’s through his business ventures, media platforms, or political advocacy, Musk will likely continue to push for disruptive changes in the industries he’s involved in, especially now that he has the backing of a sympathetic administration.

This could manifest in more aggressive moves in space exploration, possibly accelerating SpaceX’s plans for Mars colonization or expanding Tesla’s influence in global markets. Musk’s ambition to reshape industries and challenge traditional power structures will only intensify with Trump’s administration providing a supportive political backdrop.

Conclusion: Influence, Expansion, and Control

In the aftermath of Trump’s victory, Musk is poised to expand his influence across politics, business, and media. His Enneagram Type 8 traits will drive him to seize this moment to further assert control, deepen his political connections, and push for policies that align with his vision for the future. Whether through regulatory lobbying, business expansion, or media influence, Musk will likely make the most of this political landscape to continue challenging the status quo and reshaping industries on a global scale.

I’m JM, an ICF professional coach and iEQ9 Enneagram teams facilitator, who's spent over 25 years across Asia in executive roles at WPP, IPG McCann Worldgroup, S4 Capital’s Media.Monks and the Grace Blue Partnership. In 2020, I founded Tripitakka Consulting, specializing in Executive Search, Leadership Coaching, and Team Dynamics.

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Disclaimer: These insights are based on my personal observations and do not necessarily reflect the views of others.