President-elect Donald Trump dismissed claims that Elon Musk controls the Republican Party. This came after Musk criticized a government spending bill. Some critics and Democrats called him “President Musk.”
At a Turning Point Action conference, Trump responded humorously. He said Musk will not be president because he was born in South Africa.
Earlier, Musk criticized a 1,500-page spending bill proposed by House Speaker Mike Johnson. Musk posted over 100 messages on X, calling the bill too lengthy and expensive. Trump later opposed the bill, halting its progress. Lawmakers passed a revised version just before the government shutdown.
This sparked speculation about Musk’s influence over the Republican Party. Fox News commentators called Musk a key figure on Capitol Hill. Some Democrats referred to him as the “de facto president.” Trump’s spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, rejected these claims and affirmed Trump’s leadership. Musk also denied involvement in the revised bill, crediting Trump, Johnson, and Vice President-elect JD Vance instead.
Elon, the biggest donor in the 2024 election, has supported Trump closely. He contributed over $250 million to Trump’s campaign. Musk has also attended multiple events with the president-elect. Trump appointed Musk to lead a new Department of Government Efficiency aimed at reducing waste.
Critics accused Musk of spreading misinformation about the original bill. He claimed it included exaggerated pay raises and NFL stadium funding. These claims were later debunked. The actual provisions were far less controversial. (Courtesy of Forbes)
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