The New York Times’ Post

Now the election is over, Trump is going to dump Elon Musk History has a way of repeating itself. Especially when it comes to wealthy business leaders and their political alliances. Trump's victory speech lavished praise on Elon Musk. The President-elect called the Tesla CEO a "super-genius" and a "new star" said the New York Times. But precedent suggests this relationship may be short-lived. Looking back at similar dynamics between wealthy industrialists and presidents, the pattern is clear: patron Andrew Carnegie's foreign policy advice was politely ignored by Theodore Roosevelt. William Randolph Hearst, despite using his vast media empire to help elect FDR, found himself ghosted after the election. Musk has pushed for leadership of a "government efficiency commission. " He has proposed $2 trillion in federal spending cuts. It's an economy-destroying idea. But it doesn't matter. History shows us there's room for one star in any presidential administration. And it isn't Musk. The reality? Musk's $44B acquisition of Twitter (now X) and his campaign support have served Trump's purpose. Musk's companies may continue to receive federal grants and favourable regulatory treatment, but his dreams of wielding direct power in the administration are going nowhere fast. Musk may sense this. In a bid to stay relevant, he's announced plans to spend even more money supporting Trump in the mid-term elections in two years. If he doesn't, Trump may not give Musk another thought. In the dance between wealth and power, even the richest man in the world may find himself taking a chair. #Politics #Leadership #BusinessStrategy #PowerDynamics #ElonMusk

BREAKING: Senator Bill Hagerty tells CNN's Dana Bash, "Thank God Elon Musk bought Twitter, because that's the only way we would even know what's in this bill." Bash asks him whether, as a senator, he did not read the bill he was about to vote on. WATCH. Q: Was Elon Musk the only reason people became aware of the bill? A: No, I'm not saying it was only Elon Musk. We were all struggling to read an over 1500-page bill that we were given just hours to go through. My staff didn't sleep the night before. It's extraordinarily frustrating. But Elon Musk's transparency helped make the American public aware and drive change. Without that, we wouldn’t have had the pressure to make a better final product. Q: So, do you think Elon Musk played a significant role in making the final product better? A: Yes, his role was significant. We started with over 1500 pages and got it down to 120. While it wasn't perfect, it got the President’s Cabinet back in place and provided much-needed aid to people in East Tennessee who suffered from floods. That wouldn't have happened without public awareness sparked by Musk. Q: Democrats have mocked Elon Musk, questioning who the president-elect really is. Do you think the statement from Donald Trump's press secretary was necessary? A: I don't think it's necessary. Anyone who knows both men knows President Trump is clearly the leader. He’ll be the leader of the free world in 30 days, and he’s already leading. Look at what's happening with global developments like the European Union’s decision on US LNG and the UK’s defense budget increase ahead of his inauguration. Q: Are you comfortable with Elon Musk's role in media speculation? A: Elon Musk is the richest person in the world and has been incredibly successful. I’m appreciative that President Trump has someone with that level of talent available to advise him. It doesn't bother me at all.

If you voted for DJT, THIS is what you voted for. And if you think he cares about you… unless you’re a billionaire or willing to kiss the ring, think again. This is the guy who’s spent his life cheating workers, skipping taxes, running scams, and telling everyone else they’re the problem. You thought he was your guy? He can’t even pretend to care without making it about himself. You voted for discrimination and hatred. You voted for chaos, corruption, and the erosion of democracy so he could scream into a microphone and play the victim. And now, on top of all that mess, let’s imagine Elon Musk as Speaker of the House. Seriously. Elon Musk. The guy who bought Twitter just to destroy it. The guy whose vision of “free speech” is letting conspiracy theories and hate speech run wild while banning anyone who calls him out. The same guy who thinks his billions are more important than your future. The same guy who disowned his own child. Can you picture Musk running Congress? He’d probably livestream his first day as Speaker, make a few awful memes, and then charge taxpayers while the country burns. Let’s not forget, Musk’s expertise lies in over-promising and under-delivering. Government shutdown? He’d call it a “necessary disruption.” Debt ceiling crisis? He’d throw a poll on X like that’s leadership. Neither DJT nor Musk cares about working families. They don’t care about healthcare, wages, education, or equality. They care about their bank accounts, their egos, and their power. That’s it. So if you voted for this man thinking he was going to make your life better, take a good, hard look around. Is this chaos what you signed up for? And if the thought of Musk as Speaker doesn’t terrify you, then you really might want to ask yourself: when did you start rooting for the billionaires who would gladly let you drown.

Musk sees in Trump the same thing that Christian nationalists see. Trump has managed to acquire power as an outsider to the system. Remarkable. Musk wants power to achieve his objectives. Musk saw the remarkable power of Twitter to influence the MAGA. That may be why he paid $44 billion. Trump talks about placing Musk on a commission to reorganize the US government. Ideal for Musk. There is the idea of a sovereign wealth fund funded by tariffs on Chinese and other imports. How the sovereign wealth fund disburses its investments would have little oversight by Congress unlike the US budget. Musk talks about the last free election. The reality is that this may be the last opportunity for Musk to seize control. Once Musk is in control the people can be controlled by tools well understood by Musk. Elections would no longer matter much as in Putin's Russia.

Elon Musk’s Wealth Surges After Trump Wins Election Big news from the markets! After Donald Trump won the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Elon Musk’s net worth increased by 26 billions dollar in just one day. Why? Many believe Trump's pro-business policies might favor industries Musk is involved in, like electric vehicles, space, and tech. With Trump back in office, investors are hopeful about fewer regulations and more opportunities for businesses like Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter). This could mean more growth and innovation in the tech world. It’s exciting to see where this new chapter leads for Musk and others shaping the future!

🚀Elon Musk leading Gov efficiency? Buckle Up! If Trump appoints Elon Musk to boost gov. efficiency, the U.S. might just be on the fast track to a tech-powered, sci-fi-level public service! 😆 Here in Sri Lanka, with our own political shake-ups, maybe it’s time to ask—where’s our Elon? Is it going to be Dr. Harns ? And could tech be the turbocharge our gov. needs? https://lnkd.in/eTJQT8eK #DigitalTransformation #SriLanka

Has Elon Musk made himself Donald Trump's co-president? Elon Musk has taken on an unprecedented role in Trump's transition. He has become what's been dubbed the president-elect's "First Buddy." But has he made himself, co-President too? The world's wealthiest individual has been omnipresent at Mar-a-Lago since the election. He has participated in everything from victory celebrations to diplomatic meetings. He's been appointed to lead DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) alongside Vivek Ramaswamy. This isn't an official government department and won't require Senate confirmation. He's offering input on cabinet appointments, foreign relations, and policy decisions. With his $300B fortune, ownership of X (formerly Twitter), and close presidential access, he's arguably become America's most powerful private citizen. But this raises important questions about governance and conflicts of interest. Musk's companies - Tesla, SpaceX, xAI, and Neuralink - all operate in regulated industries. Should someone with such significant business interests have this level of informal power in an administration?  Is this unprecedented level of private sector influence in government concerning? Or could it bring needed efficiency to bureaucracy? #Politics #Leadership #Governance #TechIndustry #PublicPolicy

What happens when Trump, Musk, and Ramaswamy join forces? A new initiative called DODGE—Department of Government Efficiency—is turning heads. Their mission? To slash $2 trillion in government spending. Yes, you read that right: $2 trillion. Here’s the main story: * They’re hiring via X (formerly Twitter). * The qualifications? * Be ready to work 80-hour weeks. * Earn zero pay. And, in their words, “prepare to make enemies.” DODGE positions itself as a non-federal agency, operating outside traditional government structures. It’s backed by Trump’s endorsement and Musk’s “cost-cutter-in-chief” confidence. But it’s not without challenges: * Congressional control of the purse strings. * A slim Republican majority in the House. Skepticism from analysts calling the $2T target “all but impossible.” This bold, polarizing initiative has people talking. Could this really change government efficiency? Or is it a publicity stunt? >>> Read more here :https://lnkd.in/d5ETNz6J <<<

Donald Trump Appoints Elon Musk for Cost-Cutting Role In a bold move, President-elect Donald Trump has appointed tech billionaire Elon Musk to lead a new initiative aimed at slashing government spending and dismantling bureaucracy. Musk, known for his innovative approach and cost-cutting measures at companies like Tesla and SpaceX, will work alongside biotech investor Vivek Ramaswamy in the newly formed "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) 2. Trump's decision to bring Musk on board is part of a broader strategy to streamline federal operations and reduce wasteful expenditures. The initiative, which Trump likened to the Manhattan Project, aims to provide advice and guidance from outside the government to tackle massive waste and fraud in the $6.5 trillion annual government spending 4. Musk's track record in cost-cutting, most notably at X (formerly Twitter), where he laid off a significant portion of the workforce, makes him a fitting choice for this role. The DOGE is expected to operate as an advisory body, working closely with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget 6. Stay tuned for more updates on this groundbreaking initiative! #GovernmentEfficiency #ElonMusk #DonaldTrump #CostCutting #Innovation