Trump says media cannot drive wedge between himself and Musk
1. Trump is famously prickly about being outshone by anyone in his entourage
WASHINGTON: Donald Trump has dismissed media portrayals suggesting that Elon Musk wields significant power in the White House, insisting that attempts to create a rift between them have failed.
“They do it all the time,” Trump said in excerpts from a Fox News interview set to air Tuesday.
Mimicking a news anchor, he joked, “We have breaking news: Donald Trump has ceded control of the presidency to Elon Musk. President Musk will be attending a cabinet meeting tonight…”
Trump, known for his sensitivity to being overshadowed, has faced speculation that Musk’s rising influence could pose a challenge. The South African-born billionaire, officially heading the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has been given broad authority to identify waste and enact swift cost-cutting measures.
Musk’s sweeping role has sparked media satire, with Time magazine featuring him behind the Resolute Desk and The New Yorker depicting him and Trump jointly taking the presidential oath of office.
Despite this, Trump has publicly endorsed Musk’s initiatives, citing their importance amid growing budget deficits. In the Fox interview, Trump revealed that Musk had reached out to him about the media’s narrative.
“Elon called me and said, ‘You know, they’re trying to drive us apart.’ I said, ‘Absolutely,’” Trump recalled.
Trump dismissed concerns over the media’s influence, suggesting their efforts were ineffective.
“I used to think they were good at it,” he said. “They’re actually bad at it because if they were good, I’d never be president.”
“The people are smart,” he added. “They get it.”
Despite the scrutiny, Musk continues to draw media attention, including a recent Oval Office visit where he appeared casually dressed, brought his four-year-old son, and spoke at length—seemingly commanding more focus than the president himself.
