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Elon Musk’s growing influence on the Republican Party and the Trump administration has become a topic of discussion among Democrats, some of whom now sarcastically refer to the Tesla and SpaceX CEO as “President Musk.”
Musk, recently appointed by Donald Trump to head the newly created department of government efficiency (DOGE), has already made waves in Washington. His public criticism of a bipartisan budget deal just days before Christmas played a significant role in its ultimate failure.
On Wednesday, Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) to urge Republicans to reject the bill, labeling it “criminal.” His comments drew immediate reactions from Republican lawmakers, with some even suggesting he become House speaker. “In five years in Congress, I’ve been awaiting a fundamental change in the dynamic,” Representative Dan Bishop commented on Musk’s post. “It has arrived.” Trump also joined in, calling the bill “ridiculous and extraordinarily expensive.”
After the bill’s failure, Musk celebrated, stating, “The voice of the people was heard. This was a good day for America.” Chris Pack, a former communications director for Republican campaign organizations, acknowledged Musk’s influence, stating, “There is no doubt he does wield a lot of influence over Republicans right now due to his proximity to Trump.”
Democrats, however, are alarmed by Musk’s influence. Representative Jim McGovern quipped, “At least we know who’s in charge. He’s president, and Trump is now vice president.”
Representative Robert Garcia of California echoed these concerns, writing on X, “Welcome to the Elon Musk presidency.” Echoing the sentiment, House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark said, “Here we are once again in chaos,” whilst explaining the detrimental effects a government shutdown would inflict upon American citizens. “And what for? Because Elon Musk, an unelected man, said, ‘We’re not doing this deal, and Donald Trump followed along.'”
US Representative Mark Pocan, a Democrat from Wisconsin, generated artificial intelligence-created images depicting Elon Musk having influence over Donald Trump. One notable image showed Musk taking an oath administered by the president-elect. Pocan shared these images with the caption: “We just returned from the future and got this photo from the inauguration.”
Senator Bernie Sanders (formerly affiliated to Democrats) also criticised the situation, saying, “Democrats and Republicans spent months negotiating a bipartisan agreement to fund our government. The richest man on Earth, President Elon Musk, doesn’t like it. Will Republicans kiss the ring? Billionaires must not be allowed to run our government.”
Musk’s role as the head of DOGE and his push for spending cuts have raised questions about potential conflicts of interest, particularly given SpaceX’s reliance on government contracts. His deep financial support for Trump during the campaign—including $270 million in political donations, the largest in US history—has further fueled concerns. Musk is also a frequent presence at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, where he recently dined with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Trump.
Some Republicans have also expressed discomfort with Musk’s influence, according to NYT. Representative Glenn Thompson, chair of the Agriculture Committee, voiced frustration, saying Musk’s intervention had canceled direct payments to farmers negotiated in the bipartisan deal. “I didn’t see where Musk has a voting card,” Thompson said. “I’m not sure he understands the plight of the normal working people right now.”
One Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, a staunch Republican, faced criticism from Trump for opposing the proposal. Roy retaliated by criticising his Republican colleagues, accusing them of lacking dignity by contributing to the national debt.
“It’s shameful!” Roy exclaimed, whilst standing amongst Democrats and gesturing towards his Republican counterparts.
House Speaker Mike Johnson reportedly was in disagreement with Musk after the Tesla CEO threatened political consequences for lawmakers supporting a comprehensive budget bill which was backed by Johnson. Trump later intervened, cautioning Johnson to avoid antagonizing Musk while navigating government negotiations. However, by Thursday evening, Trump backed Johnson’s new proposal to prevent a government shutdown.
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