Elon Musk wants his place Donald Trump; Facing questions about the growing political influence of X’s boss, the president-elect today assured that his ally could not become president of the United States because he was “not born in this country”.

“He’s not going to be president, I can assure you,” Donald Trump said at a rally in Phoenix, Arizona.

“I keep quiet, do you know why?” he asked the crowd. “It can’t be done, he wasn’t born in this country,” the Republican continued of the Tesla and SpaceX chief, who was born in South Africa and is a naturalized American.

“I like to be surrounded by smart people,” said Donald Trump, assuring that the Elon Musk he is not “running for president.”

Donald Trump is responding to criticism, particularly from the Democratic camp, who have labeled the world’s richest man “President Musk” in recent days as he occupies political space alongside the president-elect.