Last month, Elon Musk delivered a virtual address at a private event in Texas, presenting a vision he dubbed a “great 12-year span.” This timeline envisions Donald Trump continuing with a second term and Vice President JD Vance potentially serving two subsequent terms. Musk’s remarks were shared during a reunion of his former federal cost-cutting team, as reported by Politico.
The event took place on November 22 in a Musk-owned facility near his Boring Company and SpaceX operations in Bastrop, Texas. Approximately 150 people, including current and former members of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and their families, attended. Musk chose to participate virtually, citing safety concerns as the reason for not traveling in person.
Speaking from a dark, undisclosed location, Musk claimed he is among the top three assassination targets in the nation, behind only Trump and Vance. This echoed earlier statements from Musk, including a Tesla shareholder call where he humorously suggested that getting in better shape could reduce his risk of assassination.
Despite past conflicts with Trump, including Musk’s support for impeachment and criticism of the administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” recent interactions suggest a mended relationship. Notably, Musk and Trump publicly reconciled with a handshake at a tribute for the late Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, following a prolonged feud.
The Politico piece noted Musk’s retreat from political engagements while highlighting his burgeoning personal rapport with the vice president. This shift aligns with Trump’s own comments. During a White House cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Trump hinted at a possible 2028 Republican presidential ticket featuring members of his administration, including Vice President JD Vance. He expressed a desire for their efforts to continue, echoing previous statements he made during an October trip from Malaysia to Japan, where he described a Vance-Rubio ticket as “unstoppable.”
Musk’s outlook aligns with recent comments from Trump himself. During a White House cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Trump remarked that two members of his administration could form the 2028 Republican presidential ticket, glancing at Vice President JD Vance as he noted, “Could be a couple of people sitting at this table.” He added that he wanted their work “to be carried forward.” The comments followed his October 27 statement to reporters, made during a flight from Malaysia to Japan, in which he deemed a Vance-Rubio “unstoppable.”
Musk’s reengagement with Republican politics comes after an attempt to chart his own course earlier this year. His short-lived effort to launch a third political party — the “America Party” — drew criticism from Trump, who dismissed it as “ridiculous” and warned it would only sow “disruption and chaos.” Former RNC Chairman Michael Whatley expressed indifference at the time, telling – News he would only be concerned if Musk moved to split the vote in a general election.
By summer’s end, signs of a thaw in tensions began to emerge. In July, Vice President JD Vance acknowledged he suspected Elon Musk “very much wants” to rejoin President Trump’s team, while also noting it would ultimately be Musk’s loss if he chose not to. Around the same time, Musk posted an apology on X for “some” of his recent remarks about the president and reportedly called Trump personally to express regret.
