What’s New
Democrats and some Republicans are calling Elon Musk “president” after he led the charge against a Republican-backed government funding bill, possibly sending the government into shutdown over the holidays.
Lawmakers are lining up to attack Donald Trump and Musk after they came out against a short-term spending compromise orchestrated by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson to keep the government open until the president-elect’s new term.
The spending bill would have included nearly $100 billion in aid for Americans hit by multiple national disasters, economic aid for farmers, a federal commitment to rebuild Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge and the criminalization of revenge porn.
But Johnson may now be forced to cut nearly $100 billion in aid from the bill after Trump and Musk blocked the measure.
″’Shutting down’ the government (which doesn’t actually shut down critical functions btw) is infinitely better than passing a horrible bill,” Musk wrote in one of dozens of X posts railing against the continuing resolution.
In another post, Musk asserted that “no bills should be passed” by Congress until Trump takes office on January 20.
Later on Wednesday, Vice President-elect JD Vance released a joint statement from himself and Trump demanding a streamlined spending bill.
“Republicans want to support our farmers, pay for disaster relief, and set our country up for success in 2025. The only way to do that is with a temporary funding bill WITHOUT DEMOCRAT GIVEAWAYS combined with an increase in the debt ceiling,” read the statement posted by Vance on X.
“Anything else is a betrayal of our country,” their statement read.
It wasn’t immediately clear how closely Trump and Musk were coordinating. But their opposition adds significant weight to the effort to tank the 1,547-page bill.
Lawmakers will now have until Friday to pass a spending bill. If no legislation is passed, the government will go into shutdown, possibly lasting over the holidays.
Amid the chaos in Washington, Democrats and a former Republican congressman are calling Elon Musk “president” in an attack that seemingly suggests that Trump may not be in control.
Newsweek has contacted Trump’s transition team for comment via email.
Why It Matters
The move by Musk highlights the significant role that he, an unelected official, may play in Trump’s administration as the head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). He has already pledged to make $2 trillion in cuts to the federal budget.
It also shows the dilemma Trump may face between securing funding for his new agenda – which includes a mass deportation plan and tax cuts – and appealing to his MAGA base, who want to gut the federal government and slash budgets.
Meanwhile, a shutdown could have political implications for Trump, potentially hurting seniors and veterans who not only rely on government help, but also form a significant part of Trump’s base.
