The spending fight on Capitol Hill has taken an unexpected turn as Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur, played a pivotal role in derailing a bipartisan funding bill, raising questions about his growing influence in Washington. Musk’s barrage of posts on X (formerly Twitter) calling for lawmakers to “kill the bill” has led many to wonder whether he, not Donald Trump, is setting the Republican agenda.
Musk’s campaign against the Spending Bill
Musk began his online offensive early Wednesday morning, posting a photo of the massive budget document with the caption: “Ever seen a bigger piece of pork?” The post quickly went viral, amassing 38.6 million views, thanks to the algorithm of X. His posts ramped up throughout the day, with Musk urging lawmakers to take action.
“I talked to Elon about this last night,” Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., told Fox News on Wednesday morning. “Elon, Vivek and I are on a text chain together.”
By 1:17 pm, Musk posted another warning: “Any member of the House or Senate who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in two years!” He went on to demand: “No bills should be passed in Congress until January 20, when @RealDonaldTrump takes office. None. Zero.”
At 3:58 pm, Musk posted: “Your elected representatives have heard you, and now the terrible bill is dead. The voice of the people has triumphed!”
A Musk-Trump power dynamic?
Musk’s influence is raising eyebrows, particularly given his close relationship with Trump. Musk endorsed Trump in the election, campaigned with him, and spent significant sums helping his campaign. Since then, he has been a frequent visitor to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, advising on the transition. Musk has also been tapped, alongside Vivek Ramaswamy, to lead the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency, a commission aimed at slashing government spending and regulation.
“President-elect Musk is really setting down the marker of how he wants to run his administration. VP Trump better pay attention,” former GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger taunted Trump on X.
The relationship between Musk and Trump has come under scrutiny, especially after Musk’s high-profile intervention in the spending bill debate. It’s clear that Musk is taking a hands-on approach in shaping Republican policy.
Backlash and support
Democrats and Trump critics were quick to criticize Musk’s role in sinking the funding bill. “The richest man in the world says he wants to shut down the government, forcing millions of American workers—including our troops—to go without pay through the holidays,” Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., tweeted. “Republicans are following his orders. This is insane.”
However, many Republicans welcomed Musk’s involvement. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wi., praised Musk for promoting fiscal responsibility, calling it beneficial to the conservative cause. “It’s good to have somebody in the media that can promote conservative and fiscal responsibility,” he said.
Some Republicans have even suggested Musk could play a larger role in government. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., floated the idea of Musk as Speaker of the House, posting: “The Speaker of the House need not be a member of Congress… Nothing would disrupt the swamp more than electing Elon Musk.”
A new era of influence?
As the government shutdown looms, questions about Musk’s growing influence over the GOP continue to swirl. During a Fox News interview, anchor Stuart Varney pressed Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., on whether Musk has too much influence on the budget talks. Barr responded, “No, I don’t think so. I think this is exactly what the American people voted for.”
With Musk’s outsized role in the spending fight, some are left wondering if Trump is simply the figurehead of the incoming administration while Musk continues to shape the agenda behind the scenes.
