Elon Musk appointed by Donald Trump to head a ministry of “government efficiency”

Elon Musk will enter the American government. Donald Trump announced on Tuesday, November 12, that he intended to appoint the founder of Tesla and SpaceX to head a newly created ministry of“governmental efficiency”, jointly with Republican businessman Vivek Ramaswamy.

“Together, these two great Americans will chart the course for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excessive regulations, cut wasteful spending, and restructure federal agencies.”declared the president-elect in a press release, ensuring that these two allies of his campaign would “send shock waves through the system”.

Elon Musk, owner of the social network He was also with him, at the billionaire's property in Mar-a-Lago (Florida), on the evening of the results of the presidential election, November 5.

Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, son of Indian immigrants born in Cincinnati (Ohio) 39 years ago, entered the Republican primaries in 2023 before withdrawing in January 2024 to support Donald Trump.

The president-elect, who is shaping his administration without waiting for his inauguration scheduled for January 2025, also announced, Tuesday, the nomination of the elected Republican from Florida Michael Waltz, whom he presents as a “strong champion of [sa] vision of America first [America First] »to the strategic position of national security advisor at the White House. He will be responsible for keeping Donald Trump informed on key national security issues and coordinating the operation of specific federal agencies. In a press release, president-elect presents Michael Waltz, a former special forces soldier, as a “expert on the threats posed by China, Russia, Iran and global terrorism”.

Currently head of a House of Representatives subcommittee that oversees military logistics, Michael Waltz has a long-standing presence in Washington circles. He was the director of defense policy for Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates at the Pentagon, before entering Congress in 2018.

There is 'a way to end the war' in Ukraine

He served in Afghanistan during a twenty-seven year Army career. Very critical of the administration of outgoing Democratic President Joe Biden over the chaotic withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan in 2021, Michael Waltz at the same time welcomed Donald Trump's positions on foreign policy.

He has criticized Beijing's activity in the Asia-Pacific and has expressed in the past the need for Washington to prepare for a potential conflict in the region, saying he believes the US military is currently not in a position to to face such a scenario.

Regarding Ukraine, the Republican elected official indicated that his opinion had changed. After initially calling on the Biden administration to send more weapons to kyiv, he has since said the United States needs to reassess its goals. “Is it in America's interest to deploy time, money, resources, which we sorely need now in the Pacific? »he notably asked during an event organized in October.

Interviewed on CNN, Michael Waltz stated that there was “a way to end this war”. “We can do it economically, we can do it diplomatically”he insisted.

Mike Huckabee, US Ambassador to Israel

Donald Trump also announced on Tuesday his intention to appoint former elected official John Ratcliffe as head of the CIA, responsible for intelligence outside the borders of the United States. “He will be a fearless defender of the constitutional rights of all Americans”said the president-elect in a press release.

Another desire announced by the president-elect: appoint former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee to the post of United States ambassador to Israel. “He adores Israel and the people of Israel, and reciprocally, the people of Israel adore him. Mike will work tirelessly to restore peace to the Middle East! »said Donald Trump, who decided, in 2018, to move the American embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. This Baptist pastor turned politician estimated, in 2015, that he did not see the West Bank “like occupied territory”. In 2017, in the Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, he told CNN: “The occupied West Bank does not exist. There is Judea and Samaria”the biblical name for the region that Israelis use. “There is no such thing as a colony. There are communities, neighborhoods, cities. “Occupation doesn’t exist”he added.

After the unprecedented attack by the Palestinian movement Hamas in Israel on October 7, 2023, Mike Huckabee went to Kibbutz Kfar Aza, where dozens of people had been massacred, to express his support for Israel and the “Jewish people”.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar sent him his ” Congratulations “. “As a long-time friend of Israel and our capital, Jerusalem, I hope you will feel at home”he assured in a message on X. The far-right Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich assured on “a supporter of the colonization process”. “I have no doubt that with him, we will strengthen Israel’s security and our control over all its spaces”added the Minister of Finance, also responsible for civil management in the occupied West Bank. Israel Gantz, who heads the Yesha Council (the main organization representing Israeli settlers), said “thanked” in a press release Donald Trump for his “good choice” regarding Mike Huckabee, a “old friend of the colonies” Israelis.

The president-elect also announced on Tuesday the appointment of Steven Witkoff, a New York investor specializing in real estate, as special United States envoy for the Middle East.