Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has emerged as a close ally of President-elect Donald Trump, earning the nickname “First Buddy” for his prominent presence in Trump’s circle. Musk’s influence extends from offering advice on personnel choices to joining phone calls with world leaders, including Google’s Sundar Pichai.

Their relationship was most evident during Trump’s victory, where Musk was seen by Trump’s side, both on election night at Mar-a-Lago and in various high-profile events like the SpaceX Starship launch and the UFC heavyweight bout. Musk’s support for Trump has not only been public but also political, as Trump has appointed him to lead the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency. This department, alongside Vivek Ramaswamy, aims to overhaul government operations by cutting waste, slashing regulations, and restructuring federal agencies to streamline processes and improve effectiveness.

Trump even mentioned Musk in his victory speech, praising him as a “new star” in the political scene. Musk’s efforts to bring change to government bureaucracy are seen as a central part of Trump’s “Save America” movement, which aims to reform Washington’s infrastructure and reduce inefficiencies.

This close partnership between Musk and Trump has made Musk a significant figure in the shaping of the new administration’s approach to governance.