United States President-elect Donald Trump has rejected suggestions that he has “ceded the presidency” to billionaire Elon Musk, who has played an increasingly prominent role in the lead-up to Trump’s inauguration.
Addressing the claims during a speech in Arizona, Trump praised Musk but firmly stated,
“And no, he’s not taking the presidency,” labelling the accusations as another “hoax” by his political opponents.
Trump’s comments come after Musk, owner of Tesla and SpaceX, joined him in opposing a congressional budget bill, ultimately leading to its renegotiation. The billionaire’s intervention has drawn criticism from Democrats and some Republicans, fuelling speculation about his influence in Trump’s incoming administration.
Trump joked that Musk could never officially take the presidency, as he was born in South Africa, adding,
“You know why he can’t be [president]? He wasn’t born in this country.”
Musk, currently the world’s richest person, endorsed Trump during his election campaign and contributed $200 million to a Political Action Committee supporting him. Post-election, Musk was chosen to lead a proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an advisory panel tasked with streamlining federal spending.
Despite its undefined scope, the panel has sparked concerns about Musk’s outsized influence.
The budget bill incident highlighted Musk’s impact, with Trump and Musk opposing provisions in the original bipartisan deal. House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed speaking to both men during renegotiations.
The revised bill, signed by outgoing President Joe Biden, funds the government until March but does not address the debt ceiling, a contentious issue Trump sought to avoid before taking office.
Musk’s criticisms of the original bill on his X social media platform, including threats to back primary challenges against lawmakers who supported it, also drew attention.
While some Republicans have embraced Musk’s involvement, such as Representative Tony Gonzales, who likened Musk to a “prime minister,” others, like Democrat Rosa DeLauro, criticised his influence. DeLauro condemned the removal of a provision that could have restricted Musk’s business operations in China, accusing House Republicans of yielding to an unelected billionaire.
Musk’s presence at key meetings, including calls with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has further raised concerns about his role. Social media memes depicting Trump deferring to Musk have amplified these criticisms.
Despite the backlash, Senator Bill Hagerty defended Musk’s involvement, crediting his contributions while rejecting the notion that he dictates Trump’s decisions.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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