In Trump’s call with Google CEO Sundar Pichai in a telephone conversation, a guest joined. Pichai contacted Trump to congratulate him on his win against Kamala Harris in the just-completed US presidential election. While the specifics of the call remain unknown, Musk apparently listened in as Pichai delivered his message to Trump.
Trump’s Call – Long-Standing Contact with Tech Leaders
This is not Trump’s first contact with Pichai. During his campaign, Trump said that he had many phone conversations with Pichai about issues ranging from search engine bias to public events. In an interview with Bloomberg’s John Micklethwait last month, Trump said, “I called the head of Google the other day and said, ‘I’m getting a lot of good stories lately, but you don’t find them on Google.'” Pichai allegedly responded, “You’re the No. 1 person on all of Google for stories.”
Trump also claimed on Joe Rogan’s podcast that Pichai contacted him to compliment his visit to McDonald’s, adding, “Sir, I just want to tell you that what you did with McDonald’s was one of the single biggest events we’ve ever had at Google.” 
Musk’s Increasing Role in Trump’s Administration
Aside from Trump’s call recently, Elon Musk’s presence with Trump has been more noticeable. On November 16, the two were seen together at the SpaceX Starship rocket launch and a UFC heavyweight event. Trump has regularly highlighted Musk’s donations to his campaign, even calling him “an amazing guy” during his victory address.
“We have a new star, a star is born: Elon,” Trump told his followers. “He’s an incredible man. We sat together tonight. “You know, he spent two weeks campaigning in Philadelphia and other parts of Pennsylvania.” Musk spent election night with Trump at his Florida resort, Mar-a-Lago, carefully following the results.
Leadership Role in Government Efficiency
Musk, alongside Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, will co-chair the newly founded Department of Government Efficiency under Trump’s presidency. The appointment was announced by Donald Trump during his election campaign: “Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my administration to eliminate government bureaucracy, cut excess regulations, reduce wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies—essential to the ‘Save America’ movement.”
Before this last incident of Trump’s call, Musk has provided major financial support for Trump’s re-election campaign, with reports of donations totaling more than $119 million to a pro-Trump organization. Observers believe this is a planned effort to achieve favorable policies for Tesla, SpaceX, and Neuralink, all of which depend largely on government laws and subsidies.
Beginning of a Conspicuous Support
Aside from financial assistance, Musk backed Trump on July 13, soon after an assassination attempt on Trump in Pennsylvania. His support signaled the beginning of a conspicuous campaign in Trump’s favor, culminating in their partnership on election night.
Musk’s political interests extend beyond the United States. He has spoken with world leaders such as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, providing advice on difficult issues. His expanding prominence as a political consultant has earned him the moniker “First Buddy” within Trump’s group.
Musk’s tight relationships with political officials have created ethical problems, with opponents questioning the intersection of his business goals and political influence. While Musk continues to utilize his platform, X (previously Twitter), and personal contacts to further his goals, the ethical implications of such multiple positions are a source of contention.
