Elon Musk, owner of Tesla and SpaceX, has become not only the richest man in the world but also an influential figure in the new U.S. administration and an important supporter of President Donald Trump.
His involvement in politics and public life has raised questions about his intentions to run for president of the United States after Donald Trump. But could he really do it? Here’s an explanation.
Can Elon Musk be president of the United States?
The answer is no. This is due to the law outlined in the U.S. Constitution, which states that to become president, a person must be a natural-born citizen.
Elon Musk, the current head of the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), was born in South Africa and acquired Canadian citizenship in 1989. He later became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2002. Since he was not born in the United States, he cannot run for president… unless the legislation is changed.
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Who can be president of the United States?
According to the U.S. Constitution, candidates for the presidency must meet three fundamental requirements:
- Be a natural-born U.S. citizen. This provision was included to limit access to power for those who could be considered enemies of the country, which excludes those who obtained citizenship through naturalization.
- Be at least 35 years old. Those younger than this cannot run for office.
- Have lived in the United States for at least 14 years, either continuously or during separate periods.
If these conditions are met, a U.S. citizen can run for president. However, once they have raised or spent over 5,000 euros on their campaign, they must register with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and authorize the creation of a committee to manage campaign funds.
Who can be vice president of the United States?
It’s clear that Elon Musk cannot be president of the United States. But can he be vice president? The answer is also no, because the requirements for the vice presidency are the same as for the presidency.
In addition to being a natural-born U.S. citizen, at least 35 years old, and having lived in the country for 14 years, the 12th Amendment states that those seeking the vice presidency cannot have served two previous terms as president.
Who is the youngest president in U.S. history?
So far, the youngest president in U.S. history was Theodore Roosevelt, who took office in 1901 at the age of 42 after the assassination of William McKinley. The second-youngest was John F. Kennedy, who became president at the age of 43.
Who is the oldest president in U.S. history?
Joe Biden, who assumed the presidency in 2021 at the age of 78. Had he not withdrawn his candidacy in the previous election and been reelected, he would have had the chance to break his own record by beginning his second term at 82 years old.
How many presidents has the United States had?
So far, there have been 47 presidential terms, with several presidents serving multiple terms:
- George Washington
- John Adams
- Thomas Jefferson
- John Quincy Adams
- Andrew Jackson
- Martin Van Buren
- William Henry Harrison
- John Tyler
- Millard Fillmore
- Franklin Pierce
- James Buchanan
- Abraham Lincoln
- Grover Cleveland
- Theodore Roosevelt
- Warren Harding
- Herbert Hoover
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Harry S. Truman
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
- John F. Kennedy
- Richard Nixon
- Gerald Ford
- Jimmy Carter
- Ronald Reagan
- George H. W. Bush
- Bill Clinton
- Barack Obama
- Donald Trump
- Joe Biden
