Elon Musk. Photo: Patrick Pleul
At a meeting with Republican congressmen, US President-elect Donald Trump made sarcastic comments about Elon Musk, who donated at least $75 million to support his campaign.
During a speech on Wednesday, Trump joked that Musk spends too much time at his Mar-a-Lago residence, which is also the president’s campaign headquarters.
“Elon doesn’t come home anymore. I can’t get rid of him. I don’t like him anymore,” Trump said, causing laughter in the audience.
According to MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell, these comments were not only a joke, but also a demonstration of Trump’s leadership style. O’Donnell stressed that such jokes create an atmosphere of domination and subordination, which is typical of Trump.
“When he makes a joke about someone, everyone knows that there is some truth in it, which makes that person miserable,” the host said.
Musk’s new role: influence or farce?
Trump has recently appointed Musk as co-director of the Office of Government Effectiveness, an informal body designed to streamline government processes. Together with Vivek Ramaswamy, Musk will coordinate reforms with the White House and other federal agencies.
Trump described the initiative as an “unprecedented entrepreneurial approach to government”. However, critics see it as a step towards corporate corruption.
Public Citizen strongly condemned the appointment. Its representative Lisa Gilbert said:
“Musk has no experience in government efficiency, and his own business constantly breaks the rules that he can now flout in his new position.”
Meanwhile, analysts such as Daniel Ives of Wedbush Securities believe that this decision shows Musk’s growing influence in the government. However, according to MSNBC reporters, his real role remains limited, and he will in fact have the status of a lobbyist.
Trump’s jokes about Musk and his appointment to the new department have caused both laughter among Republicans and a wave of criticism. Amid this controversy, the question of whether Musk will become an effective reformer or a symbol of corporate influence remains open.
