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President Musk? World’s wealthiest man makes his presence felt in Washington

Elon Musk’s intervention in a US spending plan highlights his influence over the Republican Party and Donald Trump

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President-elect Donald Trump, Elon Musk and Vice-President-elect J.D. Vance at a NCAA college football game between Army and Navy. Photo: AP

Elon Musk’s role in wrecking a bipartisan Congress deal to avert a US government shutdown has underlined his extraordinary influence over the Republican Party and the incoming administration of Donald Trump.

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In addition to his usual title of the world’s richest man, Democrats are now describing him as “President Musk”.

Musk has been tapped by Trump to run the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) agency, but the billionaire is throwing his weight around even before the president-elect takes office on January 20.

On Wednesday, shortly after 4am, the hyperactive owner of Tesla and SpaceX used his social platform X to attack the budget bill hammered out by Republicans and Democrats in Congress to keep the federal government operating.

Elon Musk holds his son on his shoulders at Capitol Hill in Washington on December 5. Photo: Reuters
Elon Musk holds his son on his shoulders at Capitol Hill in Washington on December 5. Photo: Reuters

“This bill should not pass,” the 53-year-old Musk wrote in the first of what became a barrage of posts.

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