FX168 Financial News (Asia-Pacific) reports that the USA Democratic Party has accused Elon Musk of becoming the "de facto president" because he successfully blocked a bipartisan government funding bill last week. In response, Donald Trump stated on Sunday (December 22) that he is the one who will be the president of the USA, not Musk.
(Screenshot source: Bloomberg)
"No, he will not be president," Trump said to conservative audiences in Phoenix, responding to increasing complaints about the Tesla boss playing too significant a role in his upcoming government.
Trump said, "You know, they are coming up with new tricks again. 'Russia, Russia, Russia', 'Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine'. All sorts of hoaxes, the latest claim is that President Trump has handed over the presidency to Musk. No, no, that won't happen."
Due to Musk's demonstration of strong political influence and even beginning to intervene in congressional affairs, he is now referred to as the "shadow president" or "co-president."
Bloomberg reports that Trump had to respond to questions about Musk's power, demonstrating that the world's richest man is showing extraordinary influence just one month before Trump's second presidential term begins.
Trump has appointed Musk to lead efforts for cost-cutting and deregulation, which he calls the Department of Government Efficiency. This is not an official department but a small group from Musk's Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) Washington office, operating via an account set up on Musk's social media platform X.
This appointment has already sparked complaints of conflicts of interest, as many of Musk's businesses — including auto manufacturer Tesla, tunneling company Boring Co., rocket launch company SpaceX, and its sister satellite company Starlink — are regulated by the federal government and have received federal contracts.
Trump expressed amazement at the technological wisdom of this billionaire born in South Africa and praised Musk for helping him win Pennsylvania. Musk donated $0.2385 billion to a pro-Trump political action committee, making him the largest single donor in the USA elections.
On Sunday, Trump praised Musk's SpaceX for its advancements in space travel and Starlink satellite technology.
At an event for the conservative youth group Turning Point USA, Trump asked, "We have a smart person to rely on, isn't that great? Don't we want that?"
Trump said, "But I can tell you, he will not become President of the USA. I will be safe. Do you know why? He cannot (become president). He was not born in our country. Hahaha."
Musk also responded to the claim of being called 'Co-President'. He retweeted a post on the social media platform X that said, "The Democrats say Musk is president just to sow discord between him and Trump," and replied, "Yes."
