Donald Trump's recent nomination of Sergio Gor as the next United States Ambassador to India has stirred considerable attention, particularly in light of a past feud between Gor and Elon Musk. Trump announced the appointment on his social media platform, Truth Social, also naming Gor as the Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs.
The relationship between Musk and Gor reportedly soured months before Musk's resignation from the Trump administration in May 2025. Tensions apparently stemmed from disagreements over personnel matters, with clashes occurring even during Cabinet meetings. According to reports, Musk "chastised" Gor regarding these disagreements.
The animosity seemingly reached a boiling point when a New York Post report alleged that Gor, despite overseeing vetting for numerous executive-branch employees as the director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office, had not completed his own background security clearance paperwork for a permanent security clearance. Although the White House refuted these claims, asserting that Gor had completed the necessary documentation and possessed an active clearance, Musk responded to a post on X (formerly Twitter) linking to the New York Post story by calling Gor "a snake".
Further fueling the conflict, reports suggest that Gor played a role in the withdrawal of Jared Isaacman's nomination to lead NASA. Isaacman, an ally of Musk, saw his nomination reversed after Gor allegedly presented Trump with a background dossier highlighting Isaacman's past donations to Democrats. This action reportedly further infuriated Musk.
Sergio Gor has been involved in Trump's political operations since 2020, holding roles in campaign fundraising and political action committees supporting Trump. Born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan (then part of the Soviet Union), Gor emigrated to the United States in 1999. He attended George Washington University, where he became active in conservative politics. Over the years, he cultivated close ties with figures in Trump's network, including Donald Trump Jr., with whom he co-founded a publishing company. Gor is considered a powerful behind-the-scenes figure in Trump's team.
Trump lauded Gor as a great friend who has been at his side for many years, emphasizing his work on his presidential campaigns and in staffing political positions across the federal government. He credited Gor's work as being key to implementing the administration's goals.
Gor's nomination comes at a time of potentially strained relations between the U.S. and India, with the planned doubling of U.S. tariffs on goods from India looming. As ambassador, Gor would be responsible for navigating these complex diplomatic and economic issues. His confirmation by the Senate is pending.
