Elon Musk is Donald Trump’s wrecking ball | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Wednesday
May 28, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2025
Elon Musk is Donald Trump’s wrecking ball

Panorama

Nia-Malika Henderson
22 December, 2024, 06:00 pm
Last modified: 22 December, 2024, 06:07 pm

Related News

  • OpenAI model disobeys humans, refuses to shut down. Elon Musk says 'concerning'
  • Musk says he'll resume working '24/7' at his companies, X outage mostly restored
  • Musk says he is still committed to being Tesla CEO for next 5 years
  • Microsoft strikes deal with Musk to host Grok AI
  • Musk's xAI updates Grok chatbot after 'white genocide' comments

Elon Musk is Donald Trump’s wrecking ball

48 hours of chaos descended on Congress after the world's richest man used his own social media platform to spread misinformation. Not for the last time

Nia-Malika Henderson
22 December, 2024, 06:00 pm
Last modified: 22 December, 2024, 06:07 pm
Musk, with his billions and his global reach via X, is unlike anyone else in Trumpworld. Photo: Bloomberg/Getty Images
Musk, with his billions and his global reach via X, is unlike anyone else in Trumpworld. Photo: Bloomberg/Getty Images

The US government has just narrowly avoided a shutdown — and the speculation, confusion and concern around tech titan Elon Musk's power in Washington is rampant. So rampant that President-elect Donald Trump's incoming press secretary was forced to clarify.

"As soon as President Trump released his official stance on the CR, Republicans on Capitol Hill echoed his point of view," Karoline Leavitt explained about the plan to keep the government funded, known as a continuing resolution."President Trump is the leader of the Republican Party. Full stop."

This was not entirely convincing. It was not convincing because Musk, who gave Trump's reelection effort a quarter of a billion dollars, has emerged as an unexpected, unelected and uncontrollable political powerhouse. He derailed the bipartisan plan to keep the government open and put Speaker of the House Mike Johnson's job in jeopardy by posting to his 200 million followers on X, the platform he owns. 

"This bill should not pass," Musk posted at 4:15 am on Wednesday. 

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

He followed up with over 150 additional posts, some of which were outright lies about the bill. (There was no 40% raise for lawmakers or $3 billion sweetheart deal for a football stadium in DC.) Trump and his nearly invisible actual governing partner, JD Vance, weighed in later — much later.

Twelve hours later, the bill was dead and Musk crowed on X that "the voice of the people has triumphed!"

Musk has been dubbed "first buddy" but he is much more like Trump's co-pilot, enforcer and benefactor.  And the unnecessary chaos they injected into the budget deal is an unfortunate preview of the next four years. 

For Republicans, it means constantly being threatened with Musk-funded primary threats if they don't fall in line. It also means facing a more menacing threat from the MAGA mob, the same group that stormed the Capitol four years ago with shouts of hanging then-Vice President Mike Pence. Despite all of this, 38 Republicans ultimately ended up defying Trump and Musk, voting no on the so-called "skinny CR." Their calculation was likely that there is strength in numbers and that 2026 is eons away in political time.  

For Democrats,  Musk's omnipresence means having to counter another unpredictable force who not only has Trump's ear but has a sizable business portfolio backed by government contracts. 

"Currently, the American public has no way of knowing whether the advice that he is whispering to you in secret is good for the country — or merely good for his own bottom line,"Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote in an open letter to Trump earlier this month. 

Notably, one of the provisions of the original bill that was stripped out after Musk's tweetstorm imposed new regulations on technological transactions involving China, where Musk has significant business ties. Its deletion was a major win for Musk. The White House, largely silent during the negotiations, pointed this out in a statement. Democrats would do well to continue to point to Musk's conflicted and self-serving role. 

The conventional wisdom is that at some point Trump will tire of sharing the spotlight with Musk. Democrats have started to refer to Musk as the president-elect and Trump as the vice president-elect to perhaps to drive a wedge between the pair. Trump has fired people from his inner circle before.

But Musk, with his billions and his global reach via X, is unlike anyone else in Trumpworld. Casting off cabinet secretaries and the likes of "Sloppy Steve" Bannon was much easier. Those people didn't have Musk's reach or celebrity — or his billions. They were sycophants who needed Trump more than he needed them. By contrast, Musk confers status on Trump by being by his side. He broadens Trump's reach and his power. Put simply, Musk makes Trump bigger. Some Republicans have suggested that Musk should be the next speaker of the House, yet this would be a major step down. 

Washington's newest power couple will likely only bring more chaos and corruption once Trump takes the oath of office. Reining them in will be difficult for Democrats, particularly if voters, in awe of Musk's wealth and bravado, give him a pass and simply assume he is just looking out for the interests of ordinary Americans, rather than protecting his own.


Nia-Malika Henderson is a politics and policy columnist for Bloomberg Opinion. A former senior political reporter for CNN and the Washington Post, she has covered politics and campaigns for almost two decades.


Disclaimer: This article first appeared on Bloomberg, and is published by special syndication arrangement.

Bloomberg Special / Elon Musk

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Inflation, exchange rate shocks to intensify fiscal pressure in FY26
    Inflation, exchange rate shocks to intensify fiscal pressure in FY26
  • File photo of jamaat leader ATM Azharul Islam
    ATM Azharul Islam set free after acquittal in war crimes case
  • Google Pay. Photo: Collected
    Google Pay likely coming to Bangladesh soon

MOST VIEWED

  • Selim RF Hussain. Sketch: TBS
    BRAC Bank MD Selim RF Hussain resigns
  • Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur. TBS Sketch
    Depositors need not worry as govt will take over banks before merger: BB governor
  • Graphics: TBS
    Suspicious banking activities surge by 56% since July: Cenbank
  • Photo: Collected
    DU student assaulted for protesting eve-teasing at Chadni Chowk
  • Illustration: TBS
    Bangladesh sees highest-ever per capita income of $2,820 in FY25, BBS provisional data shows
  • Officials protest inside the Secretariat on Tuesday, 27 May 2025, over a government ordinance amending the Public Service Act, 2018. Photo: Rajib Dhar
    Protest at Secretariat suspended as govt assures decision on ordinance tomorrow

Related News

  • OpenAI model disobeys humans, refuses to shut down. Elon Musk says 'concerning'
  • Musk says he'll resume working '24/7' at his companies, X outage mostly restored
  • Musk says he is still committed to being Tesla CEO for next 5 years
  • Microsoft strikes deal with Musk to host Grok AI
  • Musk's xAI updates Grok chatbot after 'white genocide' comments

Features

In recent years, the Gor-e-Shaheed Eidgah has emerged as a strong contender for the crown of the biggest Eid congregation in the country, having hosted 600,000 worshippers in 2017. Photo: TBS

Gor-e-Shaheed Boro Maath: The heart of Dinajpur

1d | Panorama
The Hili Land Port, officially opened in 1997 but with trade roots stretching back to before Partition, has grown into a cornerstone of bilateral commerce.

Dhaka-Delhi tensions ripple across Hili’s markets and livelihoods

2d | Panorama
Photo: Collected

Desk goals: Affordable ways to elevate your study setup

2d | Brands
Built on a diamond-type frame, the Hornet 2.0 is agile but grounded. PHOTO: Asif Chowdhury

Honda Hornet 2.0: Same spirit, upgraded sting

2d | Wheels

More Videos from TBS

Trump delays 50% tariffs on EU goods

Trump delays 50% tariffs on EU goods

10h | Others
Eid may be celebrated in Bangladesh on June 7

Eid may be celebrated in Bangladesh on June 7

11h | TBS Today
Livestock passion made successful farmer

Livestock passion made successful farmer

1h | TBS Stories
TSMC begins construction on US semiconductor plant

TSMC begins construction on US semiconductor plant

11h | Others
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net