Elon Musk’s involvement in derailing a bipartisan deal in Congress to prevent a US government shutdown has highlighted his immense influence over the Republican Party and the incoming administration of Donald Trump.
Even though Musk was named the head of Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the billionaire had already started to have an impact before the president-elect’s inauguration on January 20.
Musk, the energetic owner of SpaceX and Tesla, attacked a budget measure that was draughted by Democrats and Republicans in Congress to maintain the federal government’s operations on Wednesday at approximately four in the morning on his social media platform X.
Musk, 53, tweeted, “This bill should not pass,” in the first of several posts.
“Kill the bill,” he pleaded with House Republicans. “This bill is criminal.” Many Republicans swiftly stood with Musk, with some even praising him.
“In my five years in Congress, I’ve been waiting for a fundamental shift in the dynamic,” said Representative Dan Bishop in response to Musk’s article. “It has arrived.”
Musk should become the next Speaker of the House, according to other conservative members of Congress.
Later that day, Trump also offered his thoughts on the budget disagreement.
The spending measure, according to the 78-year-old president-elect, is “ridiculous and extraordinarily expensive.”
Days before Christmas, the nation was on the verge of a government shutdown due to the extraordinary occurrences.
Following the bill’s loss, Musk celebrated. “The voice of the people was heard,” he stated. “This was a good day for America.”
He then reposted a picture of himself standing in front of an American flag along with the Latin words “VOX DEI” (meaning “The voice of God”) and “VOX POPULI” (meaning “The voice of the people”).
Musk’s ascent to political prominence has never been seen before. Although powerful contributors have always had sway, no unelected corporate magnate has ever held such political sway.
Musk was instrumental in the last moments of Trump’s 2020 campaign, personally supporting a reelection committee and visiting a rally in Pennsylvania where the Republican candidate was wounded by a shooter.
Musk has been regularly present at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida since his election, where the incoming president is preparing for his transition.
Trump had dinner at Mar-a-Lago on Wednesday night with Musk and Jeff Bezos of Amazon, a competitor in the space race.
