Democrats taunt Trump with 'President Musk' moniker [View all]

Source: The Hill

12/29/24 6:00 AM ET


Democrats are taunting President-elect Trump with claims that billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk is calling the shots instead of the incoming president.

And with Musk set to play a major role in Trump’s second term — both as co-chair of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and a close presidential ally — it remains to be seen if the moniker of “President Musk” will cause a rift between the famously mercurial incoming president and the richest man in the world.

Lawmakers began the effort after Musk helped kill a bipartisan spending agreement that had taken months to work out. Rep. Ami Bera (D-Calif.) noted that Musk launched the public opposition campaign long before Trump issued his own statement critical of the deal, suggesting Musk compelled the president-elect to intervene, even if he had no previous designs to do so.

“Elon Musk dives in, and I think forces Trump to dive in,” Bera said. That power dynamic, Bera added, could spell trouble in the future, as two of the most powerful figures in the world— while aligned for the moment — might be headed for a messy divorce if or when their interests and egos collide. “What we learned from former President Trump is that he doesn’t want to share the spotlight with anyone, so what does that look like?” Bera asked.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5056934-president-musk-democrats-taunt-trump/