Democrats and some Republicans are dubbing Elon Musk the “shadow president” after he played a pivotal role in derailing a Republican-backed government funding bill, threatening to send the government into a holiday shutdown.
Musk and Donald Trump have joined forces to oppose House Speaker Mike Johnson’s proposed short-term spending plan, aimed at keeping the government running until January 20, when Trump takes office.
The bill included nearly $100 billion in funding for disaster relief, agricultural aid, and infrastructure, alongside measures to criminalize revenge porn. However, Musk’s vocal opposition, amplified on his social media platform X, has placed the future of the bill—and government operations—into jeopardy.
Musk and Trump Team Up Against Spending Plan
Musk slammed the funding proposal in a series of posts, calling it “horrible” and asserting that “no bills should be passed” before Trump assumes office. Trump’s Vice President-elect JD Vance joined the fray, releasing a statement with Trump demanding a streamlined budget without what they termed “Democrat giveaways.”
This opposition forced Speaker Johnson into a tight corner, with reports suggesting that he may now have to slash billions from the bill to push it through Congress. Johnson revealed that Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy had expressed their concerns directly to him, emphasizing their dislike for excessive spending.
Musk’s Role Raises Questions About Power Dynamics
Critics argue that Musk, the newly appointed head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is wielding undue influence in Trump’s incoming administration. Musk has pledged to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget, a move that has sparked both praise and alarm.
Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Pramila Jayapal, took to social media to suggest that Musk, rather than Trump, is calling the shots. “Shadow President Elon Musk spent all day railing against Republicans’ CR, succeeded in killing the bill, and then Trump followed his lead,” Jayapal wrote.
Fallout and Next Steps
The government faces a shutdown unless a new spending bill is passed by Friday. Speaker Johnson is under immense pressure to revise the 1,547-page proposal while maintaining GOP support in a slim majority.
Meanwhile, Trump’s silence during key negotiations has fueled speculation about his grasp on the situation. Former GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger quipped that Trump appears more like Musk’s “chief of staff” than the president-elect, signaling a potentially turbulent four years ahead.
As the Friday deadline looms, lawmakers must navigate razor-thin margins to prevent a shutdown that could impact millions of Americans—especially seniors and veterans, key demographics in Trump’s support base.
The nation watches as this high-stakes drama unfolds, offering a glimpse into the power dynamics that may define the Trump-Musk administration.
