Musk’s influence extends beyond mere words of support, as President Trump has assigned him to work with former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy on the Department of Government Efficiency. This advisory group, operating outside the formal government, has been tasked with slashing federal bureaucracy, regulations, and spending, with Musk initially setting an ambitious target of $2 trillion in cuts.
While Musk has since acknowledged that the $2 trillion goal may be difficult to achieve, his involvement in the administration’s efforts to streamline government has raised concerns about the potential targeting of entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare, as well as the possibility of massive layoffs of federal employees.
The close proximity of Musk and other tech billionaires to the incoming government has also drawn criticism from former President Joe Biden, who warned of a growing U.S. oligarchy. During the inauguration, Musk was seated alongside Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, all positioned behind Trump’s family, with Musk notably closest to the president.
Since the election, Musk has been a frequent visitor to Trump’s resort in Palm Beach, Florida, participating in meetings and calls with potential Cabinet members and world leaders. However, his influence has not been without controversy. Musk’s support for immigration visas that bring skilled foreign workers to the U.S. has drawn the ire of some influential Trump supporters, including former campaign adviser Steve Bannon, who vowed to “have Elon Musk run out of here.
Additionally, Musk’s role in scuttling a bipartisan government funding proposal last month, partly through the spread of false claims on his social media platform X, has raised concerns about the potential manipulation of public perception given his ties to the Trump administration. With over 200 million followers, X has largely abandoned guardrails against misinformation since Musk’s acquisition of the platform nearly three years ago, leading to a surge in conspiracy theories and bogus claims.
Despite these controversies, Musk’s enthusiasm for Trump’s second term was palpable during his rally speech at the arena. “Man, I can’t wait,” he exclaimed. This is going to be fantastic.” As the new administration takes shape, it is clear that Elon Musk’s influence will be felt across a wide range of issues, from space exploration and government efficiency to immigration and public discourse. The full implications of this tech titan’s place in Trump’s orbit remain to be seen, but one thing is certain: Musk’s prominence during the inauguration ceremonies marks the beginning of a new era in the relationship between Silicon Valley and the White House.
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