Elon Musk's special status in Trump administration becomes obvious in glaring detail from Cabinet meeting
WASHINGTON, DC: Elon Musk’s unique standing in Donald Trump’s inner circle was put on full display at the latest White House Cabinet meeting.
The room was filled with heavyweights like Marco Rubio, Robert F Kennedy Jr, and Pete Hegseth, all sitting in their designated spots neatly arranged with their official government titles - Secretary of State, Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Defense Secretary.
But then there was Musk, standing out not just because of his signature red cap but because his nameplate read only “Elon Musk” - no title, no official designation, just the billionaire’s name sitting there like a giant question mark.
According to the Daily Mail, that missing title was a not-so-subtle visual cue of Musk’s controversial role in Trump’s administration.
He’s been cutting through government bureaucracy like a chainsaw-wielding madman, slashing thousands of public sector jobs and reshaping federal operations. Critics have dubbed him the unelected “First Buddy” - an oligarch pulling the strings behind the scenes.
Liberals losing their minds over Elon Musk’s influence
It’s safe to say that not everyone is thrilled about Musk’s meteoric rise within Trump’s inner circle. Progressive heavyweights like Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have been sounding the alarm, calling Musk’s influence a dangerous sign of an “unelected oligarchy.”
On Presidents Day, thousands of protesters hit the streets of Washington, DC and other major cities in a “Not My President” demonstration.
The real target of the protest was Elon Musk. Signs taking direct shots at the billionaire included “Elon, Take Your Nazis and Go to Mars,” “Burn a Tesla, Save Democracy,” and the savage “You Can’t Spell Felon Without Elon.”
Musk’s association with Trump and his deep-rooted ties to government projects — despite technically not holding a Cabinet position — have sparked quite a debate. Officially, he holds the title of “Senior Adviser to the President” as a special government employee (SGE), a designation that allows outsiders to wield influence without Senate approval.
One particularly uncomfortable detail is Musk’s rumored role as the head honcho of DOGE, a temporary government body within the executive branch. Court filings, however, state that “Musk is not the US DOGE Service Administrator” in any official capacity, with documents clarifying that he has “no actual or formal authority” to make independent government decisions.
Trump's relationship with Elon Musk
The Trump and Musk duo seems to enjoy keeping everyone on their toes. While official documents say Musk has “no greater authority than other senior White House advisors,” Trump himself has repeatedly implied that Musk is calling the shots at DOGE.
Musk, for his part, hasn’t exactly shied away from flexing his influence. He’s been quoted as saying DOGE is “pretty much” involved in every federal department, and tens of thousands of government employees have been axed under his watch in the name of cost-cutting.
"Elon Musk is a special government employee and has abided by all applicable federal laws," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has said.
At Monday’s Cabinet meeting, Musk sat quietly as Trump and his officials boasted about their administration’s achievements. But one thing that wasn’t quiet was Musk’s bright red MAGA-style hat, which screamed in all caps: “TRUMP WAS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING.”
Trump used the meeting as another victory lap, touting his administration’s progress on issues like mass deportations and trimming down the federal workforce.
He also showered praise on his billionaire adviser. “Elon has never asked me for a thing,” he gushed, praising Musk as “a patriot” who is selflessly serving his country.
Elon Musk's conflict of interest?
With Musk at the helm of massive government contractors like Tesla, SpaceX, and Starlink, concerns over conflicts of interest have reached a fever pitch. Lawmakers across the aisle are worried that Musk’s dual roles as a businessman and a presidential adviser could create some serious ethical gray areas.
Leavitt, however, was quick to brush aside those concerns.
"For concerns regarding conflicts of interest between Elon Musk and DOGE, President Trump has stated he will not allow conflicts, and Elon himself has committed to recusing himself from potential conflicts," she assured reporters. "DOGE has been incredibly transparent about what they're doing, posting daily updates on X and updating their website."
"It's standard practice for administrations to hire individuals as special government employees to focus on specific issues, based on their outside experience, for a limited period of time," she explained.
"All SGEs are filling out the appropriate paperwork, receiving briefings on ethics rules, including the conflict of interest rules, and abiding by all applicable federal laws."
The Special Government Employee loophole
While Musk’s White House presence is certainly unconventional, it’s not exactly unheard of. The Special Government Employee (SGE) status was created in 1962 to bring in outside experts without making them full-time government staffers.
Trump’s AI and crypto czar David Sacks is another notable SGE in the administration, just as Joe Biden had communications advisor Anita Dunn under the same designation.
However, SGEs are typically brought in for a specific, narrow focus (like Sacks). Musk, on the other hand, has his hands in nearly every aspect of government operations, making his role unprecedented.
Plus, SGEs have a strict time limit. They’re only supposed to work for the government for 130 days or less in a 365-day period, according to the Daily Mail.
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