Musk Predicts Trump's Second Term Followed by Two Vance Presidencies

Article Summary

• Elon Musk predicts an extended presidential run for Trump and Vance.
• The reunion included former and current members of the federal cost-cutting team.
• Musk's political relationships have fluctuated but appear strong with Vance.
• Musk cited security concerns, impacting his physical presence.
• Musk touched on diverse topics, from domestic politics to Mars colonization.

Appearing via video at a reunion of his former federal cost-cutting team, Elon Musk stated his prediction that the United States is on the cusp of a "great 12-year span," comprised of a second term for U.S. President Donald Trump, followed by two consecutive terms for Vance.

Musk made the prediction on November 22, according to two attendees and another person familiar with the matter, as current and former members of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) gathered in Bastrop, Texas, near SpaceX and Boring Co. facilities, inside a high-ceilinged building bearing Musk’s name. The sources requested anonymity because the discussions were part of a private event.

Although Musk's relationship with U.S. President Trump experienced a thaw in June before later being repaired, the entrepreneur has fostered a strong private relationship with the Vice President this year. While Musk has taken a step back politically, if Vance were to run in 2028 and Musk chose to get involved, the tech mogul and his massive political spending would be a potent booster for Vance.

Sources familiar with the matter said that Musk joined the reunion via video link from what appeared to be a dark and undisclosed location. He addressed approximately 150 current and former members of the Department of Government Efficiency team and some family members who traveled to the location for the gathering.

As attendees enjoyed barbecue and Mexican fare at Thanksgiving-themed long tables, Musk told those present that he chose not to attend in person because news of the reunion had become public.

He stated that he believes he is one of the top assassination targets in the United States, second only to U.S. President Trump and Vance. He has expressed similar concerns in the past. At last year's Tesla shareholder earnings call, he joked that he “probably should start working out more” to reduce the risk of assassination.

But Musk's video appearance disappointed some attendees who had hoped to see him in person.

“Some who attended with spouses were embarrassed by how low-key the event was, especially since Musk didn’t show,” one of the sources familiar with the matter said.

Musk thanked the team for the sacrifices they made while serving in Washington, including giving up higher-paying jobs, enduring political blowback, and weathering death threats.

In his usual stream-of-consciousness and sometimes off-the-cuff remarks, Musk’s topics ranged from concerns about domestic conflict to the Kardashev scale, a theory measuring a civilization’s technological advancement, and then to his idea of establishing a colony on Mars. He joked that missiles launched from Earth couldn’t reach Mars quickly, and even if they did, the six-month travel time would give settlers plenty of time to prepare, which drew laughter from the crowd.

Several of Musk’s close confidants and senior staffers who worked on the Department of Government Efficiency, including Steve Davis and Anthony Armstrong, attended the reunion. At the reunion, some members exchanged anecdotes about their time living on the sixth floor of the General Services Administration (GSA) building in Washington while executing Musk’s cost-cutting directives.

In a recent interview, Musk reflected, “Generally, I find that things end badly when I get involved in politics.”

But Musk’s reunion was, at its essence, about reconnecting with those who helped him in Washington to realize his political ambitions. And it’s clear that his sights are set on 2032.