Why Democrats started calling Tesla CEO ‘President Musk’

Elon Musk’s growing influence on the Republican Party and the Trump administration has become a talking point among Democrats, some of whom are now sarcastically referring to the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX as “President Musk.”
Musk, recently appointed by Donald Trump to head the new Department of Government Effectiveness (DOGE), has already made waves in Washington. His public criticism of a bipartisan budget deal just days before Christmas played a significant role in its ultimate failure.
On Wednesday, Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) to urge Republicans to reject the bill, calling it “criminal.” His comments drew immediate backlash from Republican lawmakers, with some even suggesting he become speaker of the House. “For five years in Congress, I have been waiting for a fundamental change in the dynamic,” Rep. Dan Bishop commented on Musk’s message. “He has arrived.” Trump also joined in, calling the bill “ridiculous and extraordinarily expensive.”
After the bill failed, Musk celebrated by saying, “The voice of the people has been heard. It was a good day for America. Chris Pack, former communications director for Republican campaign organizations, acknowledged Musk’s influence, saying, “There’s no question that he has a lot of influence with Republicans right now because of his proximity to Trump.” »
Democrats, however, are alarmed by Musk’s influence. Rep. Jim McGovern joked, “At least we know who’s in charge.” He’s president and Trump is now vice president.”
California Rep. Robert Garcia echoed these concerns, writing on X: “Welcome to the presidency of Elon Musk.” Echoing that sentiment, House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark said, “Here we are in chaos once again,” while explaining the detrimental effects a government shutdown would inflict on American citizens. “And why? Because Elon Musk, an unelected man, said, ‘We’re not making this deal, and Donald Trump followed.'”
U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, a Wisconsin Democrat, generated artificial intelligence-created images showing Elon Musk exerting influence over Donald Trump. One notable image showed Musk taking the oath of office under the president-elect. Pocan shared these images with the caption: “We just returned from the future and received this photo from the inauguration.”
Senator Bernie Sanders (formerly affiliated with the Democrats) also criticized the situation, saying: “Democrats and Republicans have spent months negotiating a bipartisan deal to fund our government. The richest man in the world, President Elon Musk, doesn’t like it. Will the Republicans kiss the ring? Billionaires must not be allowed to run our government.”
Musk’s role as head of DOGE and his push to cut spending have raised questions about possible conflicts of interest, particularly given SpaceX’s reliance on government contracts. His deep financial support for Trump during the campaign — including $270 million in political donations, the largest in U.S. history — further fueled concerns. Musk is also a frequent presence at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, where he recently dined with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Trump.
Some Republicans have also expressed discomfort with Musk’s influence, according to the New York Times. Rep. Glenn Thompson, chairman of the Agriculture Committee, expressed frustration, saying Musk’s intervention canceled direct payments to farmers negotiated as part of the bipartisan deal. “I didn’t see where Musk had a voting card,” Thompson said. “I’m not sure he understands the plight of normal workers right now.”
Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, a staunch Republican, was criticized by Trump for his opposition to the proposal. Roy responded by criticizing his Republican colleagues, accusing them of lacking dignity in contributing to the national debt.
“It’s shameful!” Roy exclaimed, as he stood among Democrats and gestured toward his Republican counterparts.
House Speaker Mike Johnson reportedly disagreed with Musk after the Tesla CEO threatened political consequences for lawmakers supporting a comprehensive budget bill backed by Johnson. Trump later intervened, warning Johnson to avoid antagonizing Musk during government negotiations. However, on Thursday evening, Trump supported Johnson’s new proposal to prevent a government shutdown.