Why is Elon Musk becoming Donald Trump’s efficiency adviser?

Musk’s calls for a Doge are themselves a reference to a meme featuring a Shiba Inu dog, which then gave its name to the cryptocurrency Dogecoin. Both of which have been frequently referred to by him online.

But the calls may come in part from frustrations he has had with his other business ventures: electric vehicle company Tesla and rocket firm SpaceX.

Tesla has repeatedly been accused by the US government of trying to prevent its workers unionising – which in some cases can be against the law. Tesla is one of 13 car manufacturers where the auto workers’ union is not recognised.

Musk – who has an estimated net worth of $290bn (£228bn) – has previously said he is “not against all unions”, but that the auto workers’ union “has a track record of destroying productivity so a company can’t compete”.

In September Musk threatened to sue the Federal Aviation Administration over its plans to fine his SpaceX company $633,000 for alleged license infringements related to some of its rocket launches from Cape Canaveral in Florida. He accused the agency of “regulatory overreach”.

He has also repeatedly said he wants to colonise Mars, and SpaceX’s Starship programme is an attempt to make that possible.

But in September, he wrote that this was only a possibility “so long as it is not smothered by bureaucracy” and claimed Doge was “the only path to extending life beyond Earth”.

So is part of his motivation for taking on the role his various US-based business interests?

“There’s no doubt that Musk has significant vested interests in the US regulatory landscape as a result of his many business enterprises,” says Prof Gift.

“At the same time, it’s hard to make the case that this is the only impetus driving him.

“Musk has undertaken huge personal and political risks in coming out for Trump, and many of his activities and rhetoric seem to reflect an individual ideologically committed to causes he believes in.”