Elon Musk behaving like "co-president" in Trump’s White House, says American commentator

Chris Hayes, host of the American news channel MSNBC’s All In program, has said that Elon Musk allegedly positions himself as "Co-President" in Donald Trump’s White House. 

During the programme, Hayes said Musk, the world’s richest man, has allegedly been a near-constant presence at Mar-a-Lago, and his enthusiasm may be wearing thin with some, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Musk is “behaving as if he’s a co-president,” frequently interjecting in high-level meetings at the US president's mansion and providing unsolicited feedback on Trump’s staff selections. The news anchor says that this has led some insiders to regard Musk’s actions as an “almost comical distraction.”

However, as Hayes sarcastically remarked, “If there’s one thing we know about Donald Trump, it’s that he loves sharing the spotlight,” hinting at potential tension between the two.

Some close to Trump reportedly resent Musk’s growing influence, finding it inappropriate for a foreign-born billionaire to wield such sway.

Moreover, Musk’s “bottomless ambitions” are evident, as he continues to seek influence within Trump’s administration, likely spurred by the fact he cannot pursue the presidency himself due to his South African birth.

The political commentator noted that Musk’s success in the White House might ultimately hinge on public opinion, which may shift as Americans watch his actions unfold. Trump himself joked to reporters that he “can’t get rid of him until I don’t like him,” acknowledging Musk’s relentless pursuit of influence.

Note that Musk openly endorsed Trump during the election campaign, which Trump has seemingly rewarded by naming him co-head of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (intentionally abbreviated as “DOGE”). The controversial tech mogul even received a standing ovation upon entering the dining room at Mar-a-Lago, according to The New York Times.

Elon Musk’s super political action committee (Pac) spent about $200m to help elect Donald Trump to a second presidency. Musk’s net worth jumped $70bn since Trump’s victory in the 5 November election.

It wasn’t just Musk’s money that helped Trump. The billionaire businessman became one of Trump’s highest-profile surrogates in the final months of the campaign, often joining the former president on stage. His support gave Trump a clear opening into the universe of younger men who look up to Musk.

Trump also benefited from Musk’s ownership of X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, and the company’s work to end many of the rules that hampered Trump before he was kicked off in 2021.

By Khagan Isayev