United States President-elect Donald Trump on Sunday dismissed claims that he has “ceded the presidency” to Elon Musk, who has played a significant role in Trump’s transition into the White House.
Trump made the remarks during a speech in Arizona, following Musk’s involvement in blocking a budget bill negotiated in Congress. The Tesla and SpaceX owner joined Trump in opposing the bill, sparking criticism from Democrats and members of the Republican Party.
Addressing the criticism, Trump praised Musk but clarified, “And no, he’s not taking the presidency.” He also called the suggestion of ceding the presidency to Musk “another hoax” by political opponents.
Trump joked that Musk could not become president due to being born outside the United States, saying, “You know why he can’t be [president]? He wasn’t born in this country.”
Musk, who endorsed Trump during the election and contributed $200 million to a pro-Trump Political Action Committee, has been tapped to lead the proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The department, intended as an independent advisory panel, aims to reduce federal government spending, although its scope remains unclear.
Trump’s remarks came a day after outgoing President Joe Biden signed a funding bill to avert a government shutdown. A previous bill negotiated in Congress was opposed by Trump, who criticized its failure to raise the debt ceiling.
Musk also opposed the bill, taking to social media to pledge support for primary challenges against lawmakers backing the original legislation. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson confirmed discussions with both Trump and Musk during the renegotiation process.
The final funding bill, effective through March 14, removed provisions opposed by Trump and Musk but did not address the debt ceiling.
Republican lawmaker Rich McCormick commented that Musk’s intervention showed his influence, while Representative Tony Gonzales likened Musk to a “prime minister.” Senator Bill Hagerty defended Musk’s involvement in the negotiations, rejecting claims that the billionaire was influencing Trump’s decisions.
Musk’s involvement in Trump’s transition has also extended to international matters. He was present during Trump’s calls with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Social media memes depicting Trump as subordinate to Musk have fueled criticism from Democrats.
Some lawmakers raised concerns over Musk’s influence, particularly after the removal of a provision in the original budget bill that could have affected his business operations in China. Representative Rosa DeLauro called the move “extremely alarming” in a letter to congressional leaders, highlighting concerns about Musk’s impact on U.S. policy.
