Trump has emphatically stated on multiple occasions that Musk absolutely cannot become President of the United States.
The key basis he provided is that according to the U.S. Constitution, only citizens born in the United States are eligible to run for and hold the office of President.
Elon Musk was born in South Africa, so legally, he does not meet this strict requirement and therefore is not qualified to serve as President of the United States. In fact, there is a certain degree of collaboration between Musk and Trump. For instance, Trump appointed Musk to lead a department specifically responsible for improving government efficiency, cutting costs, and reducing regulations. However, Trump has made it clear that this does not mean Musk will replace him or have the opportunity to become president. Trump also specifically pointed out that claims about him wanting to 'hand over' the presidency to Musk are completely unfounded rumors, and even if he holds Musk in high regard, it does not change this fact.
Although Musk cannot become President of the United States due to not being a citizen born in the country, his influence on America cannot be underestimated. Especially with his use of his social platform X (formerly known as Twitter) to express various opinions, he has had a significant impact on U.S. policy-making and other areas. Furthermore, in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Musk is one of the largest individual donors, which undoubtedly has a considerable influence on the election process, capable of swaying the direction and dynamics of the election to some extent.
