A Symbolic Show of Support: The White House and Elon Musk
On a sunny Tuesday last March, President Donald Trump stood on the South Lawn of the White House, flanked by a sleek electric car. The car belonged to Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, who was by Trump’s side. The moment was symbolic—a public display of solidarity between two of the most divisive figures in America. Trump praised Musk, saying, "This man has devoted his energy and his life to doing this. I think he’s been treated very unfairly by a very small group of people." Musk, who has reportedly spent millions of dollars supporting Trump’s political efforts, smiled as he climbed into the driver’s seat of the Tesla Model S. Trump marveled at the car’s technology, exclaiming, "Everything’s computers!"
The event was more than just a photo opportunity. It marked a turning point in Musk’s relationship with the Trump administration. As the head of the "Department of Government Efficiency," or DOGE, Musk had become a key figure in Trump’s efforts to shrink the federal government. For Musk, this role was not only a political opportunity but also a chance to bolster Tesla’s image. However, it also sparked widespread criticism and protests across the country, as many questioned the ethics of his dual role as a government contractor, presidential advisor, and CEO of companies regulated by the very agencies he was now influencing.
The Backlash Against DOGE and Musk’s Role
The DOGE initiative, championed by Trump and Musk, aimed to slash federal programs and staff across nearly every government agency. While the administration framed it as a cost-cutting measure, critics argued that it was a reckless and poorly planned attack on the federal bureaucracy. Protests erupted nationwide, with demonstrators targeting Tesla showrooms and other symbols of Musk’s empire. For many, Musk’s involvement in the Trump administration was a betrayal—a stark contrast to the progressive image he had cultivated as a tech visionary.
Katie Drummond, global editorial director of Wired, a technology publication that has closely covered Musk’s rise, summed up the concerns. "It is very clear that there are conflicts of interest across the board," she said. "I mean, Elon Musk himself is one giant conflict of interest." Drummond pointed to Musk’s sprawling business empire, which includes Tesla, SpaceX, and Starlink—all companies heavily regulated by federal agencies. Yet, despite these clear conflicts, Musk was not only advising Trump but also flying on Air Force One with him. To Drummond and many others, this was a stark reminder of the growing power of the tech industry in American politics.
Conflict of Interest Concerns
The cozy relationship between Musk and Trump has raised eyebrows across the political spectrum. Critics argue that Musk’s dual role as a government contractor and presidential advisor creates an irreparable conflict of interest. His companies rely on federal contracts and regulations, yet he is also shaping the policies that affect those same companies. For instance, Tesla benefits directly from federal subsidies for electric vehicles, while SpaceX relies on NASA contracts. Drummond noted that Musk’s influence extends far beyond these companies, with the tech industry as a whole wielding unprecedented power in Washington.
Newt Gingrich, a Republican former Speaker of the House and long-time Trump ally, dismissed concerns about conflicts of interest. "One of the virtues of being as wealthy as he is," Gingrich said of Musk, "is he hardly needs to rig the game." Gingrich argued that Trump, as the nation’s CEO, had the final say on Musk’s actions. "Donald J. Trump is the chief executive officer of the United States," he said. "He was elected by the American people, and he’s acting as the President of the United States."
However, not everyone shares Gingrich’s optimism. Elaine Kamarck, a scholar at the Brookings Institution, warned that Musk and Trump’s approach to governance was fundamentally different from past efforts to reform the federal government. "We went through it the old-fashioned way," she said, recalling her work on reinventing government during the Clinton administration. "If we thought a law needed to be changed, we went to Congress and asked them to change it." In contrast, Musk and Trump were bypassing Congress altogether, relying on executive power to slash programs and agencies.
The Debate Over Transparency and Ethics
The lack of transparency in the DOGE initiative has further fueled concerns about its legitimacy. Kamarck criticized the initiative as a "slash-and-burn exercise" with no clear rationale for the cuts. "We don’t know who they’re cutting," she said. "There’s no rationale for why they’re cutting. They’re saying these people are wasteful? What do you mean? What are they doing that is a waste of taxpayers’ money? We’ve gotten none of this."
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt pushed back against these criticisms, insisting that DOGE had been "incredibly transparent." She also emphasized that both Trump and Musk were committed to avoiding conflicts of interest. Musk, Leavitt noted, had pledged to recuse himself from any decisions that could benefit his companies. However, Drummond of Wired remained skeptical. "Concerns about Elon Musk are not going away," she said. "Elon Musk, for now, remains empowered."
The Future of Musk’s Influence
As the protests against DOGE and Musk continue to grow, one thing is clear: the tech industry’s influence on American politics is here to stay. The inauguration of President Trump in January 2025 was attended by some of Silicon Valley’s biggest names, including Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai, and Musk himself. Drummond called the event a "stark moment of realization" about who really runs the country. "The technology industry," she said, "has so much power, and when you combine that with collusion with the federal administration, that’s what we’re about to see."
Gingrich, for his part, sees Musk as a key player in Trump’s campaign to dismantle the "deep state." "Trump has been campaigning for 10 years," he said. "He’s found in Elon Musk the kind of person who has the drive, the toughness, the intelligence to really fundamentally take on the ‘deep state’ and change it in ways that would normally be unthinkable." Musk’s limitless ambition and work ethic, Drummond added, suggest that this is only the beginning of a much broader transformation of federal agencies and infrastructure.
As the debate over Musk’s role in the Trump administration continues, one thing is certain: the intersection of tech and politics will shape the future of American governance. Whether that future is bright or fraught remains to be seen.
