When Elon Musk called Trump’s India ambassador pick Sergio Gor a ‘snake’; a look at their rivalry

Tensions between Musk and Gor date back to before Trump’s inauguration on January 20

Sergio Gor was on Friday (local time) nominated the next US ambassador to India and special envoy for South and Central Asian affairs by President Donald Trump. The announcement coincides with a fragile phase in India-US ties, marked by ongoing trade tensions.

Gor has played a pivotal role in Trump’s political operations since 2020, and is reportedly considered one of the major factors behind the rift between Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk.

In June this year, Musk publicly attacked Gor on X (formerly Twitter), describing one of Trump’s closest aides as a “snake”. The Tesla CEO’s post came shortly after a New York Post report claimed that Gor, tasked with vetting thousands of executive-branch employees, had not completed his own background security clearance paperwork for a permanent security clearance.

The New York Times reported that Gor had a bitter clash with Musk – once a close adviser to Trump and spearheaded an initiative that upended government systems under the banner of cost-cutting and reducing bureaucracy.

Reports suggest that Gor informed Trump about businessman Jared Isaacman -- Musk’s choice to head NASA -- having previously donated to Democrats, leading Trump to withdraw the nomination from Senate consideration on Musk’s last working day in the White House.

According to a report by Axios, the final straw behind Musk’s relationship with Trump came when the US president abruptly announced the decision to remove Isaacman’s nomination. “This was Sergio’s out-the-door ‘f**k you’ to Musk," a White House official said.

Tensions between Musk and Gor date back to before Trump’s inauguration on January 20. Earlier, Musk had dismissed Gor as “sleazy”.

The feud deepened later when Musk reportedly “humiliated” Gor in a Cabinet meeting in March by criticising delays in filling administration posts. Reports suggest Gor’s hostility toward Musk was so personal that he privately celebrated whenever Tesla’s stock tumbled.

What Trump said on Gor’s nomination as US ambassador to India

In a social media post on Friday, Trump said Gor, 38, is a "great friend, who has been at my side for many years". "I am pleased to announce that I am promoting Sergio Gor to be our next United States Ambassador to the Republic of India," he said.

He would also serve as a special envoy for South and Central Asian affairs, Trump said. Trump said Gor and his team had overseen the hiring of nearly 4,000 officials across federal departments and agencies “in record time,” adding that over 95 per cent of positions were now filled.

Gor will remain in his current role at the White House until his confirmation, he said.

"Gor has worked on my historic presidential campaigns, published my best-selling books, and ran one of the biggest Super PACs, which supported our movement,” Trump wrote.

The president described Gor’s role in the administration as “essential” in delivering on his political mandate. “For the most populous region in the world, it is important that I have someone I can fully trust to deliver on my agenda and help us make America great again. Sergio will make an incredible Ambassador. Congratulations Sergio!” Trump said.