Elon Musk shows he still has the White House’s ear on Trump’s Middle East trip

Although Musk has pivoted away from his role as de facto leader of the so-called “department of government efficiency” and moved out of the White House, the Saudi summit showed how he is still retaining his proximity to the US president and international influence.

As Musk returns to his businesses as his primary focus, he is still primed to reap the rewards of his connections and political sway over Trump.