The Elon Musk and Donald Trump alliance is more than a political union; it is an earthquake in the way power functions in the US. Musk, a former outsider in Washington, is now a powerhouse within the Trump administration, exerting influence that goes beyond campaign contributions and corporate lobbying.
By investing approximately US$270 million in Trump's 2024 bid with continued support on X, Musk has safely landed in the White House. His work in the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has made him an unelected power broker. He now enjoys the coveted position to influence federal policy, unravel regulations, and bend government agencies to his whims.
This is not merely about a billionaire befriending a politician. This is about the institutional breakdown of democratic accountability as Musk remakes the government in his image for his purposes. This is when Trump, who feeds on loyalty, welcomes him as a trusted friend.
Musk's most explicit entry into the US government is through DOGE, a loosely outlined initiative co-led by himself and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Founded in the aftermath of Trump's November 2024 election win, DOGE professes to be a mission to eradicate wasteful US government expenditures and overregulation. However, behind the bravado exists a much more radical truth, by February 2025, Musk's team had secured access to sensitive government information, including:
1. Treasury Department payment systems
2. USAID-classified documents
3. Educational records subjected to AI processing
Despite Musk's formal status as a ‘special government employee,’ a position legally limited to 130 days annually, his power has already eclipsed that of traditional cabinet officials. His access to government information has raised alarms among lawmakers. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, reacting to it, has even termed DOGE to be an ‘unelected shadow government’ under Trump's tenure.
Musk's empire, including his companies, Tesla, SpaceX, and Starlink, are not only holding up under Trump; it is flourishing. Investors understand that Musk's strong connections to Trump provide unmatched benefits, as Tesla's stock jumped 40% following his US presidential election win.
The promise is clear, Musk's companies will be protected from regulation, probes, and government scrutiny:
Tesla: Trump's administration will likely relax safety regulations, even as Tesla's Autopilot crashes remain under investigation by NHTSA. Trump may even roll back EV tax credits. Analysts predict that this will disproportionately harm Tesla's competitors rather than the company itself, cementing its leadership.
SpaceX: Having already won US$20 billion in NASA and Pentagon contracts since 2008, SpaceX is now set to receive even more government funding. Trump has already expressed frustration with Boeing, possibly rerouting military and space contracts with Musk.
Starlink: Musk's satellite constellation has become invaluable in combat zones such as Ukraine. It also provides him with leverage on foreign policy. With Trump, Starlink could receive regulatory exemptions and even sole-source government contracts to grow its business globally.
This is not business as usual. This is a billionaire employing the White House as an instrument of corporate growth. This degree of government manipulation should alarm all Americans.
Trump and Musk's relationship is founded on admiration for each other and a common disdain for regulation. Trump has publicly downplayed fears of Musk's power, calling him ‘a genius’ and ‘a big cost-cutter.’
Musk, meanwhile, has moved from critic to ardent supporter of Trump's political image. The Tesla CEO endorsed the now US president on X (formerly Twitter) following the July 2024 assassination attempt. Musk even called the then-Trump rival Kamala Harris a dictator. He appeared in person at Trump rallies, publicly cheering the then-election candidate:
However, not everyone is convinced of this partnership:
1. Democrats are demanding investigations into Musk's handling of classified information.
2. Government employees are stepping down. Marko Elez, a DOGE-aligned engineer, resigned on February 6, 2025, amid criticism of logging onto Treasury networks.
3. Legal hurdles are building, with US District Judge Loren L. Ali Khan suspending DOGE's funding blockade on February 17, 2025, due to constitutional issues.
4. Public sentiment is split. On one hand, Musk's fans regard him as a visionary challenging government inefficiency. On another, detractors caution that he is buying political power on an unprecedented level.
Elon Musk's increasing stranglehold on Washington is not a theoretical concept; it is currently unfolding. Through DOGE, his financial power, and his companies' reliance on government contracts, Musk has become the most influential unelected person in the United States.
The question is: Where does this stop?
If this partnership is allowed to continue, the US government will no longer be controlled by elected officials but by the desires of a billionaire with corporate interests at stake. The distinction between democracy and oligarchy has never been more narrow. America or USA must choose if it will be a nation of the people or auctioned off to the highest bidder.