Elon Musk predicted a 12-year rule by Republicans in the United States. In his scenario, after Donald Trump's second term power could go to J.D. Vance for two consecutive terms.
Address to the DOGE team
The entrepreneur voiced his prediction on November 22 during an online appearance before former employees of the government cost‑optimization team. The event took place in a building owned by Musk near SpaceX and Boring Company facilities in Bastrop, Texas.
Musk joined the meeting from an unknown location that appeared completely dark. About 150 current and former DOGE participants gathered in the room together with members of their families. Attendees kept their phones in special protective pouches until the event ended.
Reasons for virtual participation
The businessman explained his absence by citing concerns for his personal safety. He said he considers himself the third‑most likely target for an assassination in the country, after Trump and Vance. Musk has voiced similar worries before — last year on a Tesla shareholders' call he joked about needing to train more to reduce the likelihood of a successful attack.
The virtual format disappointed part of the audience, who had expected an in‑person meeting with Musk. Some attendees who had brought family members felt awkward about the modest scale of the event.
Topics of the speech
The entrepreneur thanked the team for the sacrifices they made while working in Washington: giving up high‑paying jobs, political pressure and death threats. His speech covered a wide range of topics — from the risks of civil conflict to the Kardashev scale, which measures the technological development of civilizations.
Musk also argued for the necessity of colonizing Mars, joking that rockets from Earth would not be able to reach the Red Planet quickly, and that a six‑month flight would give colonists enough time to prepare for any threat. These remarks drew laughter in the room.
One attendee noted that the businessman referred to science‑fiction novels, including Robert Heinlein's "The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress" about a lunar colony uprising and Isaac Asimov's "Foundation" series.
Attendees
The event was attended by Musk's senior team, including Steve Davis and Anthony Armstrong. Former DOGE members exchanged memories of life on the sixth floor of the GSA building in Washington while carrying out cost‑cutting tasks.
Context
Musk's relationship with Trump suffered a serious rift in June this year, but later recovered. At the same time, the entrepreneur has developed a close personal relationship with Vice President J.D. Vance. Although Musk has recently stepped back from active political activity, his financial support could prove decisive for Vance's 2028 presidential campaign.
In an interview with Nikhil Kamath, Musk admitted that his political activism usually ends badly. Nevertheless, the very fact of organizing the meeting indicates continued ties with people who helped advance his political ambitions in Washington. And his prediction about 2032 shows long‑term plans in this area.
