Elon Musk is not America’s new king. But he might be its new Thomas Cromwell | John Naughton

The billionaire was indispensable to Trump's campaign and now has a senior job. He is about to become dangerously useful

Picture, if you will, the scene in Mar-a-Lago on election night at the moment when it's become clear that Trump has won. The atmosphere is hysterical. Trump is in expansive form. He stands surrounded by his ghastly tribe of dependants, plus AN Other. In his victory speech, the president-elect praises his campaign staff, his prospective vice-president, and his family. Each gets a few seconds of adulation.

But AN Other gets a whole four minutes. He is Elon Musk, the richest manchild in history. Trump calls him a super genius", a special guy" and a star". He has flown straight from Texas in his Gulfstream to bask in the adulation of his new lord and master. He has also paid several hundred million dollars, plus a month of his time, to be here. But now his time has come.