US President Donald Trump makes it 'official': Elon Musk has become a friend of mine. He has never ...

US President Donald Trump has put an official stamp on his relationship with Tesla CEO and the world's richest man Elon Musk. Talking about Elon Musk at a media event after his second cabinet meeting on March 24, Trump called him a friend of his and went on to thank him for his DOGE efforts. President Trump said: "Elon, I want to thank you. I know you've been through a lot with this horrible situation that happens. He is a patriot.”

“He's become a friend of mine. He has become a friend of mine, and supported me in the election. That's when I got to know him really,” Trump added. “I knew him a little bit from the first term, but not much”.
“He has never asked me for a thing. He could have,” Trump stated, jokingly adding “that's always subject to change, and if it does change, I'll let you know about it.”
During his address, Trump also highlighted “I got rid of the electric car mandate. I have no idea how that affects it, but possibly not good”. Just hours after taking office in January, the US President revoked a 2021 executive order by former US President Biden that set a goal for 50% of new vehicle sales to be electric or plug-in hybrid by 2030.

He also addressed the ongoing protests and incidents involving Tesla cars, suggesting that if Musk weren’t backing Trump (and spearheading DOGE), “none of this would be happening.” Calling those attacking Tesla cars as ‘high level terrorists”, Trump said that the police will find the perpetrators. He also said that the people supporting these protestors could very well be the people he knows. He further stated that “those (people) are in big trouble”.
Musk attended the cabinet meeting, wearing a “Trump Was Right About Everything” red baseball hat.
During the cabinet meeting, Trump said, "Elon's a patriot, we want to thank you very much for the job you're doing, thank you very much.'" Musk responded: "Just trying to the right thing for the American taxpayer and for the American people."