US President-elect Donald Trump addressed growing criticism about Elon Musk’s influence within his incoming administration during a rally in Arizona on Sunday.
Speaking to a crowd of supporters, Trump dismissed claims that he had “ceded the presidency” to the billionaire entrepreneur, calling it another “hoax” spread by his political rivals.
Referring to memes and rumours circulating in social media, Trump told the audience, “No, no. That’s not happening. He’s not gonna be president.” He joked about Musk’s South African birthplace, adding, “You know why he can’t be [president]? He wasn’t born in this country”, reported Associated Press (AP).
🚨 Donald Trump on Elon Musk today:
“He’s not going to be President that I can tell you. I am safe because he can’t be. He wasn’t born in this country. He’s a great guy.” pic.twitter.com/O2H7WuGCfq
— DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) December 22, 2024
Musk, currently the world’s richest man according to Forbes Magazine, endorsed Trump during the election campaign after the president-elect survived an assassination attempt. Musk also contributed an estimated $200 million to a Political Action Committee (PAC) supporting Trump.
Since then, Trump has tapped Musk to lead the proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a panel aimed at drastically reducing federal spending. While billed as an independent advisory body, the scope of DOGE’s authority remains unclear.
Trump’s comments came a day after outgoing President Joe Biden signed a funding bill to avoid a government shutdown. Earlier, Trump and Musk had both criticised the original bipartisan bill for not addressing the debt ceiling, which sets a limit on how much the US government can borrow.
Musk’s posts on X amplified opposition to the deal, with the billionaire pledging to fund primary challenges against lawmakers who supported it. His influence was evident in the final version of the bill, which removed provisions opposed by both Musk and Trump but did not raise the debt ceiling.
I’d like to propose that Congress pass a “Save the Bureaucracy” bill, based on the premise that any given bill will do the opposite of its name 🤣🤣
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 22, 2024
Speaking to CNN, Republican Rich McCormick said, “[Musk] has influence, and he’ll put pressure on us to do whatever he thinks is right for him.” Meanwhile, Congressman Tony Gonzales remarked on CBS, “It feels like Elon Musk is our prime minister.”
Democrats have expressed concern over Musk’s involvement in Trump’s transition activities. The billionaire has been present at key meetings, including discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, as well as a congratulatory call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Social media memes have further fuelled concerns, depicting Trump as subservient to Musk. Some Democrats accuse Musk of leveraging his position for personal gain, with one describing his involvement as “extremely alarming.”
Despite Musk’s growing role, Trump made it clear that the billionaire would not overshadow him. “It’s my administration, and I make the decisions,” he told the crowd.
By naming Musk as a co-chair of the efficiency commission, Trump seems to value Musk’s business acumen while asserting his own authority as president-elect.
The interplay between the two men continues to shape public and political discourse as Trump prepares to take office in January.
(with inputs from news Agencies)
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