OXON HILL, Md. — During the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), attendees showcased not only the traditional red “Make America Great Again” hats associated with President Donald Trump but also a growing presence of the black “Dark MAGA” hats popularized by Elon Musk. This shift illustrates Musk’s rising influence as a significant conservative figure, despite his past support for Democratic leaders like Barack Obama and Joe Biden, largely due to his connections with Trump.
Whitney Mason, a 62-year-old real estate professional visiting from Seattle, expressed approval of Musk’s role, stating, “He is an authentic and unique individual. I am glad he is on the team.” Musk’s surprise presence at the event was made known shortly before he took to the stage wielding a chainsaw, a prop signaling his influence just days after Trump’s administration asserted in court that Musk wasn’t in charge of his signature Department of Government Efficiency.
Throughout the conference, speakers enthusiastically referenced DOGE, a meme coin that gained notoriety in 2021 thanks to Musk’s promotion. They praised him with titles such as “white knight,” “hero of free speech,” and, as described by critical commentator Steve Bannon, “Superman.” House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized, “What Elon and the team are doing is what Congress has not had the ability to do. They have cracked the code. They’re inside the belly of the beast of the bureaucracy, and the algorithms are crawling through.”
Under Musk’s counsel, the Trump administration has dismissed thousands of federal employees without prior notice, offering them options to resign while reducing agency sizes without needing congressional consent. As the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, Musk, who acquired Twitter in 2022, has vowed to streamline operations and cut unnecessary costs, with strategies that have led to confusion and protests within various government agencies.
While Trump delivered his remarks at CPAC, Musk announced that federal employees would receive emails outlining their week’s accomplishments, adding that a lack of response would be considered a resignation. “Elon is doing a great job,” Trump remarked during his speech. “We love Elon, don’t we? He’s a character.”
Nevertheless, some critics argue that Musk’s connection with Trump may serve his interests, especially with multiple federal investigations threatening Tesla’s ambitions for autonomous vehicles and self-driving tech. Furthermore, Musk’s SpaceX has substantial contracts with the Pentagon, NASA, and other intelligence agencies.
Colin McEvers, a 19-year-old political science student who has supported Trump, showed admiration for Vice President JD Vance and acknowledged Musk’s business savvy. Still, he expressed unease about Musk’s increasing influence in government, particularly regarding regulations that once safeguarded workers from corporate exploitation. “I like the basic principle of making government more efficient and cutting back on costs,” stated McEvers. “But I can’t ignore the potential self-interest involved with the wealthiest man in the world playing a significant role in reducing regulations that could benefit his own businesses.”
Currently, the Trump administration has not disclosed any actions that might favor Tesla or Musk’s other enterprises. Musk’s stance on certain policies, like the H-1B visa program for skilled immigrant workers, has turned him into a point of contention among some MAGA supporters, including Bannon, who previously criticized Musk by labeling him as a “parasitic illegal immigrant.” However, Bannon refrained from openly criticizing Musk at CPAC, instead facing backlash for a gesture that some compared to a Nazi salute; he defended it as a wave.
Meanwhile, an anti-Trump gathering occurred a few miles away at a hotel in Washington, where over a thousand activists and thinkers laughed as billionaire Mark Cuban accused Trump of “overselling” and claimed that Musk’s actions have yet to benefit Trump supporters. “Elon is going to make his job a thousand times harder,” Cuban asserted, using profanities to convey his belief that Musk is indifferent to the needs of those who voted for Trump.
On the same day, Trump commented on Truth Social expressing his desire for Musk to adopt a more assertive approach, downplaying concerns regarding Musk’s unofficial role while exerting a significant influence on government decisions. “People said ‘well, what official position does he have?’ I say patriot,” remarked Trump.
