Trump says he is personally keeping an eye on Musk’s conflicts of interest while leading DOGE
President Donald Trump says he doesn’t know whether Tesla chief Elon Musk had met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as a private citizen or as a special government employee, but saw no harm if there’s no conflict of interest.
Musk, who is leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) met with Modi in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 13 before his meeting with Trump, with the pair discussing issues such as space and technology, Fortune reported.
READ: News Analysis: TruModi bromance blooms again! (February 14, 2025)
“I don’t know,” Trump told reporters in the White House when asked whether Musk had met with Modi as a private citizen or a government staffer “They met, and I assume he wants to do business in India.”
“I guess if there’s no conflict then what difference does it make,” Trump added. The President also denied that Musk will secure any new relevant government contracts while working on DOGE.
READ: Narendra Modi’s US visit: Key highlights and takeaways (February 14, 2025)
Given Musk’s two major companies—SpaceX and Tesla—operating in these industries, his meeting with Modi would ordinarily raise no eyebrows, Fortune noted.
However, with Musk currently working as a special government employee in the Trump administration, questions about the overlap between his personal interests and public service continue to mount, it said.
Trump also said he is personally keeping an eye on Elon Musk’s conflicts of interest between his private interests at companies like SpaceX and Tesla, and DOGE.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, according to Fortune had previously it would be left to Musk himself to recuse himself if such a conflict arose.
Tesla CEO planned to travel to India to meet Modi in April last year, with the aim of scoping out a new Tesla facility. However, by July 2024, the trail had gone cold, Fortune reported citing Bloomberg. Musk’s interests in India also relate to his satellite company, Starlink, which is currently pending regulatory approval in the country.
In December, Musk confirmed that Starlink is “turned off” over India, as the entrepreneur denied his satellites were being used in the nation for terrorism.
The rebuttal came after the Indian Army seized weapons and ammunition being used by criminals in the Manipur state. In a photo posted by the army on X, a box bearing the Starlink logo can be seen.