In a fiery address at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest conference in Phoenix, President-elect Donald Trump dismissed speculation about Elon Musk's rising influence in his political orbit. "No, he's not going to be president, that I can tell you. And I'm safe. You know why? He can't be - he wasn't born in this country," Trump said, referencing the constitutional requirement that a U.S. president must be a natural-born citizen. Musk, the South Africa-born billionaire, has increasingly been seen as a pivotal player in Trump's administration, raising both admiration and concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
Trump's remarks followed a tumultuous week in Washington, where Musk played a critical role in derailing an emergency spending measure to prevent a government shutdown. Using his social media platform X, Musk posted more than 100 times, rallying opposition to the proposed deal and exerting unprecedented influence over Republican lawmakers.
This dynamic has led some to jokingly refer to Musk as "President Musk." Democratic Representative Brendan Boyle remarked, "Elon Musk proved that he is the real leader of the Republican Party," citing Musk's ability to sway policy decisions with his posts. Delaware Senator Chris Coons expressed concerns, saying, "We're not just going to have President-elect Trump as a billionaire rage-tweeting at 4 a.m. We're going to have Elon Musk also injecting instability into how we tackle very complicated and important issues for our country."
Despite the speculation, Trump and Musk maintain a public alliance. Trump has tapped Musk to head a new nongovernmental office aimed at reducing government costs and inefficiencies, known as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin praised the collaboration, stating, "We're bringing in a consultant from the private sector to put a different set of eyes on what we're spending money on."
However, Musk's growing influence has sparked concerns about conflicts of interest. His companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, receive billions in government contracts. Critics argue that Musk's new role could allow him to streamline regulations to benefit his own businesses. Representative Rosa DeLauro accused Musk of working to derail a provision in the original funding bill that would screen investments in China, suggesting he aimed to protect Tesla's Shanghai operations.
The relationship between Trump and Musk has raised questions about how long their partnership will last. Trump's history suggests he does not tolerate being overshadowed for long, even by allies. Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie predicted, "When you initially begin in that role, you have enormous influence. And he loves having you around and he loves listening to you. It will always decline. And that's what happens. It will happen with Elon Musk too."
Meanwhile, Trump used his Phoenix appearance to address other policy issues, including a warning to Panama about what he called "excessive fees" for using the Panama Canal. "We're being ripped off at the Panama Canal like we're being ripped off everywhere else," Trump declared, threatening to retake control of the canal if fees are not reduced. Panama's president, José Raúl Mulino, responded firmly, stating, "The sovereignty and independence of our country are non-negotiable."
Trump also reiterated his intention to end the war between Russia and Ukraine, claiming leverage with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He described the conflict as "horrible" and said he would bring it to a swift conclusion.
