What’s New
Representative Tony Gonzales, a Texas Republican, said in a Sunday interview that billionaire Elon Musk “feels like our prime minister.”
Newsweek reached out to Tesla’s press office to request comment from Musk on Sunday.
Why It Matters
Musk, the world’s wealthiest man and one of the most prominent allies of President-elect Donald Trump, drew substantial attention from the political world this week, as well as significant backlash from Democrats, as he played a major role in tanking a bipartisan spending agreement. While a new deal was reached on Friday and passed through Congress, many warned a government shutdown was possible when the initial agreement fell through.
While many leading Republicans have touted Musk, the owner of X, formerly Twitter, as a positive influence on the nation’s politics, Democrats have slammed the billionaire and suggested he is calling the shots instead of Trump. Some began referring to him as “President Musk” and to Trump as the “vice president” as the spending bill debacle ensued.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
What To Know
Gonzales spoke with CBS News’ Face the Nation on Sunday morning and was asked about Musk’s influence on the GOP and the congressional negotiations.
“It’s kind of interesting, we have a president, we have a vice president, we have a [House] speaker,” the congressman said. “It feels like, as if, Elon Musk is our prime minister.”
Gonzales went on to say that he spoke with Musk “a couple times” over the past week. While Gonzales conceded that Musk is “unelected,” he said that the billionaire, to a significant extent, represents voters.
“A large part of that [Musk’s] voice is a reflection of the voice of the people,” he added.
Notably, Musk, who also leads Tesla and SpaceX, reportedly contributed more than a quarter billion dollars to help get Trump elected. In the final weeks of the presidential campaign and since the election, he has routinely appeared at Trump’s side and become one of his closest advisers.
The president-elect has also announced that Musk will co-lead a new government body, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), alongside biotech entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Musk has pledged to utilize the new department to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget moving forward.
What People Are Saying
Senator Bernie Sanders, a progressive independent from Vermont, wrote on X, on Thursday: “Democrats and Republicans spent months negotiating a bipartisan agreement to fund our government. The richest man on Earth, President Elon Musk, doesn’t like it. Will Republicans kiss the ring? Billionaires must not be allowed to run our government.”
Senator Bill Hagerty, a Tennessee Republican told CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday morning: “Thank God Elon Musk bought Twitter, because that’s the only way we would even know what’s in this [bipartisan spending] bill. Elon Musk’s transparency helped make that happen.”
Trump’s spokesperson Karoline Leavitt weighed in on critics suggesting Musk is calling the shots in comments to Business Insider: “As soon as President Trump released his official stance on the CR [continuing resolution], Republicans on Capitol Hill echoed his point of view. President Trump is the leader of the Republican Party. Full stop.”
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen how Musk’s political influence will play out in Congress and with the Trump administration.
Some political analysts have suggested tensions may arise between Trump and Musk, as both are high-powered billionaires seeking attention and power. At the same time, Musk’s enormous wealth and his willingness to use it as a political force may have a substantial impact on keeping him in good standing with Trump and Republicans moving forward.
