Kash Patel has become a leading contender to lead the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) under Donald Trump and now appears to have Elon Musk’s backing for the job.
Trump and Patel have been in ongoing communication for years and have discussed a national security-related role in the president-elect’s second administration.
A source familiar with the talks says a job for Patel as CIA director falls within “his lane,” but had nothing more specific to anticipate.
Patel served in multiple national security and defense roles during Trump’s first term and has been a vocal advocate for those prosecuted for the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Kash Patel, considered one of Trump’s leading candidates for CIA director, suggested in a podcast two months ago that the president-elect create a 24/7 ‘declassification office’ to increase intelligence. transparency.
During an interview with podcaster Shawn Ryan in September, Patel suggested that Trump create a “declassification office” to increase transparency in government.
In response to that proposal, social media personality ALX wrote on X that Patel “should be the next CIA director under Donald Trump.”
“Good idea,” Musk responded to the tweet, which included a clip of Patel’s interview.
The opinion of the head of Tesla, X and SpaceX has a lot of weight for Trump.
Musk has been with the president-elect since Election Day on November 5. Since then, they have been seen dining, playing golf, and walking around Mar-a-Lago together.
And female NASCAR icon Danica Patrick backs Patel’s bid to take over the CIA, writing in X: ‘Go Kash!’
He also said that if he runs America’s top intelligence agency, he would love to see Patel declassify the “UFO files…while you’re at it.”
Elon Musk appeared to endorse Kash’s appointment as CIA director in a tweet praising his proposal to increase transparency at the agency as a “good idea.”
Kash Patel held multiple national security and defense positions during Trump’s first term.
Earlier this summer, Musk joked online about creating a new agency called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) that would focus on cutting DC bureaucracy and regulations that Republicans believe are holding back certain industries.
Musk first endorsed Trump after the assassination attempt against him at the Butler, Pennsylvania, rally in July.
Patel served in the Trump administration as an official on the US National Security Council; principal advisor to the acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI); and chief of staff to the Secretary of Defense.
