Supporters of the MAGA movement are rallying behind the controversial presence of Elon Musk, the unelected tech billionaire, at President Donald Trump's inaugural Cabinet meeting.
They are drawing parallels between Musk's attendance and that of First Lady Jill Biden at her husband's Cabinet meetings.
President Trump's query to his Cabinet members, "Is anybody unhappy with Elon? If you are, we'll throw him out of here," was met with laughter and applause. However, Musk's presence at this high-level government meeting has sparked a wave of criticism on social media, particularly from those who question the extent of his influence on the country's governance.
The unease surrounding Musk's involvement stems from concerns about the power wielded by the billionaire, who has no official government role. His advisory Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has already secured access to the internal data of numerous government agencies, including the Labor Department, U.S. Treasury, Office of Personnel Management, General Services Administration, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the Small Business Administration, among others.
This development has raised eyebrows, given that Cabinet meetings are typically reserved for the President, Vice President, and heads of federal departments, such as State, Defense, and Treasury.
According to Newsweek, these meetings are generally used to discuss policy, coordinate government actions, and advise the President on key issues. While noncabinet individuals may provide expertise or input on policy decisions, DOGE is not a federal executive department, further fueling the controversy surrounding Musk's attendance.
In the wake of Musk's Cabinet appearance, former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich voiced his disapproval, stating, "Trump hosts the first full cabinet meeting of his second term todaywith noncabinet member Elon Musk in attendance. It's yet another reminder of who the wealthiest administration in history actually serves: the billionaire class."
Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen echoed this sentiment, criticizing the billionaire's influence: "Elon Musk spent $280 million to elect Donald Trump, and he's been handed access to government agencies, cabinet meetings, lucrative contracts and Americans' private information. It's billionaires rigging the game for billionairesthe most corrupt bargain in American history."
Despite the backlash, MAGA supporters were quick to highlight that noncabinet officials attending such meetings is not without precedent. They cited the example of Jill Biden's presence at one of her husband's Cabinet meetings. In September, the former First Lady sat at the head of the table at a Cabinet meeting to discuss a White House Initiative on Women's Health Research.
The President justified Jill Biden's presence, stating, "Here and across previous administrations, first ladies have attended these meetings for specific reasons. This is the first time Jill has joined us, and it goes to show how important the issue is, which she is about to speak to." However, her appearance also sparked a social media outcry, with critics questioning who was truly running the country.
In response to the criticism, White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates defended the First Lady's involvement, stating, "Before President Biden updated his cabinet and the country on the continued achievements of the most successful administration in modern history, he asked the first lady to join for the top of the meeting to showcase groundbreaking work they are leading to fundamentally change how we fund and approach women's health research."
President Trump, for his part, expressed his satisfaction with Musk's involvement, stating on Truth Social, "ALL CABINET MEMBERS ARE EXTREMELY HAPPY WITH ELON. The Media will see that at the Cabinet Meeting this morning!!!"
The debate over Musk's presence at Cabinet meetings underscores the ongoing tension between traditional government roles and the influence of unelected individuals. As the controversy continues to unfold, it remains uncertain whether Musk will be a regular attendee at future Cabinet meetings.
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