A Cabinet Showdown: Trump Reins in Elon Musk
Yesterday, in an extraordinary turn of events, President Trump took a step he’s avoided for the first seven weeks of his administration: he reined in Elon Musk. The drama unfolded during a cabinet meeting where Musk clashed with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The tension began when Musk criticized Rubio for not firing enough people, dismissing him as merely "good on TV." Rubio pushed back, and Trump, who was watching the exchange, intervened. He made it clear that from now on, cabinet secretaries would be in charge, and Musk’s team would only provide advice. While Trump expressed support for Musk’s mission, he gave his secretaries the authority they had been seeking.
This interaction marked the first sign that Trump is willing to impose limits on Musk, even if those limits only bring Musk’s role more in line with what administration lawyers have described in court. However, the question remains: Will Musk accept this new dynamic, or will he continue to push for control? Musk’s history in the business world suggests the latter. Ryan Mac, a tech reporter who has covered Musk extensively, notes that Musk has never been content with being just one voice among many. He prefers to be in charge, as evidenced by his tenure at Tesla, where he became CEO after initially being an investor, and at Twitter (now X), which he acquired outright to take full control.
Musk’s Drive for Control
Musk’s desire for control is a defining trait. At Tesla, he transitioned from an early investor to CEO, cementing his leadership. At Twitter, he initially considered joining the board but ended up buying the company, firing its executives, and becoming CEO before naming a new chief executive while retaining significant control. His attempts to gain control haven’t always succeeded—PayPal forced him out as CEO decades ago, and he failed to acquire OpenAI, a nonprofit he co-founded. Yet, his track record shows a consistent pattern: Musk wants to be the bride, not the bridesmaid. The question now is whether he’ll accept Trump’s directive to act as an advisor and whether he’ll be satisfied with that role.
A Yo-Yo of Federal Jobs
While Musk has vowed to “take a chain saw” to the U.S. government, the reality of federal jobs has been more like a yo-yo. Despite the Trump administration’s efforts to slash federal jobs, some agencies have reversed course, rehiring essential workers, including those maintaining the U.S. nuclear arsenal. Public opposition and lawsuits have also led to some fired workers being rehired. The back-and-forth has been tracked by graphics teams, illustrating the zigzag nature of federal employment under Musk’s overhaul.
The situation is further complicated by theodus of top talent from federal agencies. The cybersecurity agency, for instance, has seen its top recruits decimated by cuts. Meanwhile, the secretary of education, a key focus of Musk’s government restructuring, has stated that her agency doesn’t even need to exist. The Environmental Protection Agency has seen Musk’s team expand its influence, requiring approval for transactions and contracts over $50,000.
Musk’s Megaphone on X
Musk has turned to his X account as a megaphone to gauge public sentiment and defend his cost-cutting measures. He polled his 219 million followers, asking if they supported his efforts to reduce government waste and fraud. The poll offered three options: “No,” “Yes,” or “Super Yes.” As of Friday evening, “Super Yes” had garnered about 43% of the vote. Musk has a history of using polls to test public opinion, often abiding by the results. For instance, after X users opposed some of his content-moderation decisions in late 2022, he polled whether he should remain CEO and stepped down when users voted against him.
Musk’s decision to poll his followers suggests he’s feeling pressure over his aggressive approach to cutting the federal budget, particularly after his clash with Rubio and other cabinet members. However, the poll’s results may embolden him to continue his chain-saw approach, as a significant portion of his followers appear to support his efforts.
Musk’s Privatization Push
Amtrak, the federally owned intercity rail service, has long been a target for privatization. Now, it seems to have landed on Musk’s to-do list. Speaking at a tech conference, Musk called Amtrak “embarrassing” and a “sad situation,” arguing that only privatization could fix it. However, privatization would require congressional approval, and Amtrak has pushed back. In a white paper, the railroad argued that privatization proposals fail to address any clear problem. Amtrak also noted that it reported record revenue in the 2024 fiscal year.
This isn’t the first time Amtrak has faced privatization attempts. Previous presidents, including George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan, considered selling or privatizing the service, and Trump proposed deep cuts during his first term. For now, Amtrak remains a federally owned service, but Musk’s comments add a new layer to the debate. With his track record of pushing for control and his influence in the administration, it’s unclear whether privatization will gain traction this time around.
A Parting Thought: Musk’s Endgame
As the dust settles from the cabinet meeting and Musk’s poll on X, one thing is clear: Elon Musk is a man who thrives on control. Whether he’ll accept Trump’s directive to act as an advisor or find ways to expand his influence remains to be seen. History suggests the latter. For now, one thing is certain—Musk’s role in the Trump administration will continue to shape the federal government in ways both unexpected and consequential.
