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The two have discussed ways for Musk, who runs the social media
platform X as well as SpaceX and Tesla, to have "formal input
and influence" over economic and border security policies,
according to the Journal.
The WSJ also said Musk informed Trump about his ongoing
influence campaign aimed at convincing powerful U.S. business
leaders not to support Democratic President Joe Biden, who beat
Trump in the 2020 election and is seeking a second term.
Those talks, which included billionaire investor Nelson Peltz,
also included discussions about funding a "data-driven project
to prevent voter fraud," the outlet said, adding no further
details were known.
Representatives for Trump and Musk did not immediately respond
to requests for comment. Representatives for the Biden campaign
also did not immediately respond.
Trump campaign spokesperson Brian Hughes told the Journal that
only Trump will decide "what role an individual plays in his
presidency." The WSJ said Musk did not respond to its requests
for comment.
In March, following a meeting with Trump in Florida, Musk — one
of world's wealthiest individuals — said he would not donate
money to Trump or Biden. Instead, he aims "to use his clout ...
to help defeat Biden by galvanizing the support of influential
allies", said the WSJ, citing a person familiar with his
thinking.
Musk in recent years has more fully embraced the Republican
Party.
Musk has said, without evidence, that Biden is intentionally
allowing migrants to cross the U.S.-Mexico border. He has also
endorsed antisemitic comments on X, though Musk has denied being
antisemitic.
While he has publicly criticized Biden policies on immigration,
electric vehicles and tariffs, Musk has not made any formal
endorsement in November's contest and Trump has said he did not
know if he has the billionaire's support.
Musk's views have hurt his standing among some consumers,
according to a CivicScience survey shown exclusively to Reuters.
Trump, a prolific user of Twitter, now X, before he was banned
from the social media site following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on
the U.S. Capitol, launched his rival Truth Social platform,
owned by Trump Media and Technology Group Corp.
(Reporting by Tim Reid, Manas Mishra and Stephanie Kelly;
Writing by Susan Heavey; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
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