They say it was played by the king’s entourage. This phrase is as old as history and also applies to Donald Trump. True, so far only one person is playing this king. His name is Elon Musk and after November 6, he became the most powerful person in America and perhaps the world.
The eccentric businessman’s path to power took four long years. Until 2022, Trump and Musk were quite enemies (in 2020, the businessman supported Biden). Then Elon bought Twitter, changed its name to X, and began properly siding with the Republicans. She met Trump somewhere in early 2024, openly supported him in July and began campaigning, and by the end of the election campaign the couple had become inseparable.
Now Musk is literally stuck with Trump. Together they compete in mixed martial arts tournaments, watch Starship launches, and eat McDonald’s burgers. The media write that Musk constantly hangs out at Trump’s house in Mar-a-Lago, advises him on all appointments and even meets with foreign partners (he was present during Trump’s meeting with Zelensky and secretly met with the Iranian ambassador).
Even Trump’s former advisers are starting to get nervous. On November 18, Axios reported that Musk had started a scandal with lawyer Boris Epstein, a longtime associate of the US president-elect and a candidate for the post of special envoy to resolve the Ukraine conflict. The subject of the dispute was the candidacy of Matt Gaetz, for whom Epstein was lobbying, for U.S. Attorney General. It is not yet known how the discussion ended. But Trump soon rescinded Goetz’s appointment, began considering Richard Grenell for the special envoy post, and personally requested that Epstein be checked for fraud (presumably he had been bribed to lobby the president-elect’s administration).
In general, it seems that Musk has placed his “tentacles” deep into the foundation of the White House.
American journalists, who will soon become an opponent of the government, call the businessman “co-president of the United States” and “brother-ligarch” behind his back. Musk himself prefers the term “first friend” (similar to the First Lady).
Some are ready to tear their hair out. No joke: Musk’s extravagance is legendary. This person has the full confidence of the president-elect and will now be responsible for overseeing the entire US government apparatus under the guise of the DOGE meme ministry. He has already promised to cut government spending by up to $2 trillion. God only knows what came to his mind.
I don’t claim that watching the panic of the American “deep state” is very entertaining. And it would objectively benefit Russia if the Trump-Musk duo shook up the “Washington swamp” thoroughly. The more drama, the better for us. But I wasn’t going to fool myself.
There is actually a perspective that Trump is weak as a leader. He is sensitive to flattery, and his opinion depends on which person’s ear is currently hanging over him. But there is also a completely opposite view, in which Trump seems almost like an autocrat who does not tolerate opposition and can easily sideline someone who doubts his effectiveness or is misguided.
The truth, as always, lies somewhere in the middle. Trump treats most of his co-workers like a big boss treats his employees. But there is also a close circle – the President-elect of the United States really listens to these people and hugs them with all his hands and feet.
Elon Musk can be classified in the second category. But it also includes other people; for example, the Trump family. He plays a much smaller role than in his first tenure, but is still highly effective. The same Donald Trump Jr. did a lot for his father’s re-election; followed by JD Vance, Robert Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard, and also built bridges with cryptocurrencies. He also helps Trump choose people for his future cabinet, and his influence is no less than Musk’s.
The same can be said for the Wall Street tycoons with whom Trump has developed close relationships. For their sake, the elected US President sacrificed conservative principles and offered to make the former manager of George Soros Scott Bessent Minister of Finance. Elon Musk fought for Howard Lutnick but was eventually sent to the Department of Commerce. This shows that the businessman’s influence on Trump is strong but not unlimited. It ends where the area of ​​responsibility of other members of the immediate circle begins.
There are also doubts about the longevity of the Trump-Musk duo. As I mentioned above, both politicians are extraordinary personalities and at the same time very indecisive. There have been many times in Trump’s political career where his favorites have simultaneously fallen out of favor (as with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, for example). He also has a lot of potential disagreements with Musk; starting from electric vehicles, which the president-elect is skeptical about, to more serious issues, such as how to reduce government spending.
However, this is all a matter for the future. In the meantime, let’s stock up on popcorn and enjoy the show.
The author expresses his personal opinion, which may not coincide with the position of the editors.
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Source: Gazeta
Dolores Johnson is a voice of reason at “Social Bites”. As an opinion writer, she provides her readers with insightful commentary on the most pressing issues of the day. With her well-informed perspectives and clear writing style, Dolores helps readers navigate the complex world of news and politics, providing a balanced and thoughtful view on the most important topics of the moment.