President Donald Trump has moved to quell speculation that Elon Musk has outsized influence in Republican politics, with the tech billionaire usurping his powers as president-elect at a conservative rally. He claimed he had no intention of doing so.
“No, he’s not going to be president,” President Trump told cheering supporters at the Turning Point USA conference in Phoenix on Sunday. “And I’m safe. Do you know why he can’t do that? He wasn’t born in this country.”
The remarks came a week after Musk’s intervention led to the derailment of a key government funding bill, leading to Democratic critics derisively calling him “President Musk.” A Republican lawmaker also likened Musk to a “prime minister” on Sunday after praising his role in the funding fight.
“We have a president, we have a vice president, we have a speaker. It feels as if Elon Musk were our prime minister,” Texas Congressman Tony Gonzalez told CBS News’ Face the Nation. He spoke at
When asked about Musk’s non-elect status, Gonzalez defended the billionaire as reflecting “the voice of the people.”
The Tesla CEO and owner of Company X posted more than 100 times opposing the original funding package, calling it “one of the worst bills ever written.” He reportedly urged Republicans to shut down the government rather than support it. His social media barrage comes ahead of similar opposition from Trump, leading to weakening support among congressional Republicans and prompting House Speaker Mike Johnson to develop a smaller alternative. was forced to.
The episode highlighted Musk’s influence over Republican politics after he gave $250 million to the Trump campaign. The president-elect has named Musk co-head of a new non-governmental office focused on reducing government inefficiencies, a deal that raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest given Musk’s vast business empire. New concerns are emerging from Democrats.
During funding bill deliberations last week, Connecticut Representative Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, wrote in a letter to Congressional leaders that Musk’s provisions would increase oversight of Chinese investments. He claimed that he had worked to reduce the number of people living in the United States, suggesting Mr. Musk’s opposition. This is due to concerns about protecting Tesla’s Shanghai manufacturing plant.
Sen. Chris Coons, D-Delaware, warned on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday that dynamic telegrams would cause further confusion, saying: It will inject instability into the way Elon Musk approaches a very complex and important problem. ”
Some political observers question how long the alliance will last, given Mr. Trump’s history of falling out with high-profile supporters who attract too much attention.
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“When you first start playing that role, you’re going to have a huge impact,” former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.” “It’s bound to ebb and flow. And it’s going to happen. And you’re going to see it. It’s going to happen to Elon Musk, too.”
Another point of tension could be the war in Ukraine, which President Trump has vowed to end quickly, but which includes Mr. Musk’s satellite internet service, which has become crucial to the Ukraine effort. Starlink’ will be sacrificed.
President Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., sought to downplay any friction at a conference in Phoenix last Thursday, saying: They are trying to cause that division to prevent them from doing what they do best, and we cannot allow that to happen. ”
