Does the Secret Service provide protection for Elon Musk when he is performing tasks for the President?
Does Elon Musk have his own private security service?
Is there a potential conflict between Elon Musk’s private security and the Secret Service?
Musk is constantly surrounded by his own personal security.
I assume his security guards are not allowed or needed in the White House.
But I am guessing that they are welcome if unarmed. Just becasue.
He’s also carrying around a meat shield on his shoulders these days
But would any of them take a bullet for him? I doubt it.
“Taking a bullet for him” isn’t really how effective security works. No one jumps faster than a bullet. Looks great in movies, but real security is ensuring no one can fire the bullet towards the subject in the first place. It starts with moving the subject in unpredictable, unannounced ways. Musk has no public itinerary.
I am sure Musk’s security is quite competent.
Musk hired former Army Special Forces soldiers to i.d. check visitors coming into SpaceX with FN90s not-so-discretely slung under their oversized jackets (no doubt because he thought it was ‘cool’, but still a lot of muscle compared to what I’ve seen in any other aerospace or defense contractor). I’ve literally seen less security at Air Force bases and Naval Air Stations.
Stranger
His security team now operates like a mini-Secret Service, and he is guarded more like a head of state than a business executive, security experts said. Mr. Musk, who was once flanked by two bodyguards, travels with as many as 20 security professionals who show up to research escape routes or to clear a room before he enters. They often carry guns and have a medical professional in tow for Mr. Musk, who has been code-named “Voyager” by his security team.
However this was from September of 2024. Now that Musk has given the Nazi salute, is trying to help destroy democracy, is promoting fascism at home and abroad, he is probably beefing up his security detail to more than 20 people.
My impression is that he is basically leeching off the presidents security perimeter. But if Musk gets kicked out of the white house, I have no idea what’ll happen. He will probably become a social recluse with 100 security guards guarding his compound that he never leaves.
Also the shooting of the UHC CEO seems to have spooked him. Musk has been carrying around his 4 year old son as a human shield ever since the day after that shooting took place. My recollection is the shooting happened one day, and Musk was carrying around his 4 year old son on his shoulders to protect his head the next day.
No, that was just a dumb conspiracy theory. Musk’s been dragging his son along with him everywhere long before the UHC shooting.
Not necessarily true. Rules are for the general public, not selected insiders.
- I personally have been involved with some GA flights that took off < 5 miles from the president; the Secret Service was the first speaker at our pre-flight briefing so they were obviously aware of & allowed our flights; even gave us instructions if we landed right by the prez. Everyone got wanded but then they let the pilot carry a knife/Leatherman (but the passengers couldn’t)
- I know someone who flew a drone, with permission, in a TFR last week.
- Remember when Cheney was VP he shot someone in his hunting party; the Secret Service didn’t pounce on the guys feet from the VP with guns out & their fingers on the trigger.
Anyway, it doesn’t matter now as the US Marshals Service deputizes Elon Musk’s private security team so they are now federal law enforcement officers & can carry in federal buildings when he goes a DOGEing.
Autocrats are not eternal, no matter how heavily guarded!
I would still be very surprised if the Secret Service allows Musk’s private security (even if deputized) to carry guns around the POTUS.
I would not be. They are all probably former military (I heard that at least some of them are former Special Forces) who are most likely vetted. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of them have security clearances knowing how this administration works.
Are the Secret Service still pretty much “Protect the office at all cost”, or has Trump pretty much influenced the Secret Service to the point that they are loyal to him personally, no matter what he does?