A few hours before President Trump’s inaugural cabinet meeting, he praised Elon Musk on social media, leading the cabinet to affirm their loyalty while Musk criticized them on various issues. Despite some tensions, all members responded with laughter and applause, indicating a forced unity. Musk, who has not been appointed to any official role, acted as though his directives were equivalent to Trump’s orders. Meanwhile, Musk endorsed Jeff Bezos’ new initiative to publish only opinion pieces that align with his views in The Washington Post, reflecting a trend of using social media to shape government policies and narratives more directly.
Just a few hours prior to President Trump’s first cabinet meeting, he took to his social media platform to announce that the members of his cabinet were “EXTREMELY HAPPY WITH ELON.”
As the meeting got underway, it appeared that the cabinet members were tasked with affirming this sentiment.
The secretaries remained relatively quiet behind their name cards—essential items for those who, while holding power, may not be widely recognized. They listened attentively as the wealthiest individual globally reprimanded them about the budget deficit, awkwardly admitting to a halt in efforts to combat ebola, and stressing their pivotal role in his plans.
“I’d like to express my gratitude to all of you for your support,” Elon Musk remarked.
However, not every cabinet secretary shared Musk’s enthusiasm—especially when he instructed their staff to report their time via email or face resignation. When a journalist pointed out the evident discomfort, Trump redirected the question to the cabinet.
“Is anyone unhappy with Elon?” Trump inquired. “If so, we can remove him. Is anyone unhappy?”
No one protested. A nervous chuckle spread around the room, as Howard Lutnick, the commerce secretary, grinned and initiated a slow clap, joined eventually by Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, who then absentmindedly scratched her nose.
Nearby, Kelly Loeffler, the small business administrator, applauded while tending to an itch on her ear. Secretary of State Marco Rubio contributed a solitary clap, his gaze fixed on Musk with a steady smile. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the health secretary, shifted uneasily in his chair.
Cabinet meetings under Trump have gained a reputation for uncomfortable displays of subservience, but today’s may have marked a shift, showcasing deference not to a president but to a tech mogul.
Musk is not a cabinet member, nor does he formally lead the Department of Government Efficiency, the mechanism for his governmental overhaul. However, he was undeniably the focal point, as my colleague Shawn McCreesh noted, and it was clear that Trump anticipated his cabinet would rally behind Musk regardless.
“They will adhere to the orders,” Trump proclaimed.
Musk asserted that this group constituted the “best cabinet ever,” subsequently detailing his directive for federal employees, which Trump had encouraged him to make more “aggressive.” He mentioned that Trump had permitted him to issue a “pulse check review” directive.
The underlying message to the cabinet members became evident: an edict from Musk, who has positioned himself as a sort of enforcer for Trump, should be interpreted as a directive from the president. And everyone ought to embrace it.
MEANWHILE on X
Musk applauds Bezos
Another billionaire made news today: Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon and owner of The Washington Post, declared that the opinion section of the paper would feature daily pieces that advocate for free markets and personal freedoms, avoiding dissenting perspectives. My colleague Kate Conger provides insight into Musk’s response.
“Bravo, @JeffBezos!” Musk tweeted on X.
Musk’s excitement is no surprise. Bezos’ initiative to align The Post’s editorial stance with his political views mirrors Musk’s agenda for X. After acquiring the social media platform in 2022, Musk believed it to be heavily biased against conservative viewpoints. (Interestingly, studies revealed that the platform had given greater exposure to conservative news than to liberal content.)
Thus, Musk aimed to steer discourse back toward the right. Years later, it is evident that his account has become the most followed and impactful on the platform, with conservative influencers who had previously been banned now boasting large followings.
Musk has effectively transformed X into a dominant, right-leaning news outlet. He frequently celebrates when its app secures top positions in the app store charts under the “news” category, and a recent staff member even earned a spot in the White House press briefing room.
X has evolved into a powerful political platform for Musk. The question lingering is whether Bezos desires The Post to play a similar role for him.
— Kate Conger
BY THE NUMBERS
Spending cuts fade from the ‘wall of receipts’
Musk’s governmental initiative removed all five of the largest claimed cost “savings,” which were previously highlighted by the group, after my colleagues and various news organizations pointed out their inaccuracies.
Here’s what has been omitted:
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An $8 billion reduction at Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The relevant contract was actually valued at $8 million.
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Three $655 million cuts at the U.S. Agency for International Development. In reality, this represented a single cut mistakenly counted three times, as reported by CBS News.
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A $232 million cut at the Social Security Administration. Musk’s team seems to have incorrectly assumed that the agency had terminated a significant IT contract with the defense contractor Leidos, when in fact, as The Intercept revealed, only a minor component of it had been canceled.
Read further here.
More insights on Musk’s team
things you shouldn’t overlook
Got a suggestion for Elon Musk? Reach him via X.
Trump’s initial term marked the beginning of a governance style dictated by tweets. Musk has taken this a step further by formulating policy through X, as noted by my colleague Zach Montague.
On several occasions, viral posts by Chaya Raichik, creator of the Libs of TikTok account known for frequently targeting the transgender community, and Christopher Rufo, a writer focused on pushing conservative views in education policy, have rapidly prompted changes to governmental documents and policies.
The speed with which proposals from notable conservative figures make their way to Musk’s administration and various government agencies indicates an almost direct line allowing outside activists to prompt immediate adjustments with just a few keystrokes.
Read more here