Democratic lawmakers have a nasty new plan for President-elect Donald Trump: Make the suggestion that ally and tech billionaire Elon Musk has become the real power behind Republican policy, particularly after Musk’s intervention in recent spending debates.
“Elon Musk dives in, and I think forces Trump to dive in,” said Rep. Ami Bera, D-Calif., referring to Musk’s opposition to Congress’ failed spending bill, which Musk said before Trump’s own criticism.
Former House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer also attacked Musk’s social media influence and how it gutted the massive establishment spending deal.
“We had an agreement that was jointly reached, and that monkey wrench was put in there by 50 or 100 tweets by Musk that turned the Republicans around.”
Musk, tapped to co-chair Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency, has expanded his role beyond finding waste, weighing in on congressional health tests and joining key meetings with Trump.
Commentators are using the alliance to try and provoke tension between the two strong personalities.
Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., also pushed the “President Musk” label on social media.
“The fact speaks for itself: The one that first disrupted the bill was Musk, and the one that helped pay for the presidency was Musk, and the one that has been in front of Trump — and that’s hard to do — has been Musk.”
The Trump-Vance transition team dismissed the Democratic jabs.
“Democrats have nothing but ad-hominem attacks because they lost everything,” spokesperson Anna Kelly said.
Still, the “President Musk” posts have flooded social media. Will Trump supporters eventually fall for it?
Civil War#MAGA don't seem to blame Trump for selling out "America First" to globalist President Musk. 🤔 Whose fault is this anyway? Was Trump gullible and conned? https://t.co/ajF6cXA0ZU
— Diane Toucan (@DianeToucan) December 31, 2024