Elon Musk and the U.S. Presidency: Can He Run?

Understanding the Constitutional Requirements: Elon Musk's Presidential Chances

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Published in 04-03-2025

The United States Constitution, in Article II, Section 1, states that only a person who is a -natural-born citizen- can hold the office of president. This means the individual must have been born as a U.S. citizen, either on U.S. territory or, in some cases, abroad to U.S. parents.

Elon Musk was born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa, to a Canadian mother (Maye Musk) and a South African father (Errol Musk). He was not born on U.S. territory nor to U.S. parents, so he does not meet the requirement of being a "natural-born citizen". Musk became a U.S. citizen in 2002, but being a naturalized citizen does not make him eligible for the presidency.

Could this rule change?
Theoretically, yes, but it would require a constitutional amendment, a process that is extremely difficult. Two-thirds of both chambers of Congress (the House of Representatives and the Senate) would have to approve the amendment proposal, and then three-fourths of the states (38 out of 50) would need to ratify it. This process has only occurred 27 times in U.S. history, with the last amendment (the 27th, regarding congressional salaries) ratified in 1992.

There have been past proposals to remove this restriction, such as the "Equal Opportunity to Govern Amendment", introduced by Senator Orrin Hatch in 2003, which would have allowed naturalized citizens with at least 20 years of citizenship to run for president. However, these proposals have not progressed far enough to become law.

Elon Musk's Citizenship: A Barrier to the White House?

How likely is it that Musk would run for president?
Although Musk has significant influence in U.S. politics and the economy, he has not shown direct interest in running for president, likely because he is aware of this constitutional limitation. Instead, Musk has preferred to influence politics through his wealth, his companies (such as Tesla and SpaceX), and his public presence. For example, he has openly supported candidates like Donald Trump in the 2024 elections and was even named, along with Vivek Ramaswamy, to lead the "Department of Government Expenditure Optimization" (DOGE) in a proposal by the Trump administration, according to reports from November 2024.

Additionally, Musk has expressed critical views on government and bureaucracy, suggesting that he prefers a role of external influence rather than holding a formal political office. In a 2023 interview, Musk joked about the idea of becoming president but quickly pointed out that he was not eligible.

What would happen if the Constitution were changed?
If an amendment were passed allowing naturalized citizens to run for office, Musk could be a formidable candidate due to his popularity, wealth, and ability to mobilize support. However, he would also face significant challenges: his direct and sometimes polarizing style could alienate certain voters, and his lack of experience in public office could be a disadvantage compared to more traditional politicians.

In summary, under current laws, Elon Musk cannot become president of the United States. Changing this restriction would require a monumental effort, and while Musk has a massive impact on the public sphere, it seems more likely that he will continue to influence politics from outside the presidency.