It’s the Elon Musk paradox.
On X, he’s a noble gladiator with a mission direct from President Donald Trump. He brags at length about using his “Department of Government Efficiency” to dismantle federal bureaucracies, cancel taxpayer-funded programs and transform Washington’s institutions.
But in court — and increasingly in public messaging — the White House claims he’s really just a run-of-the-mill adviser. Musk is an “employee” with no direct connection to the DOGE operation and no decision-making power, a White House official swore this week in response to one of the many lawsuits challenging what Musk and DOGE are doing.
Officially downplaying Musk’s authority — even as the ultra-wealthy CEO himself amplifies it — may have both legal and political benefits. After all, Musk’s consolidation of power might not just run afoul of the Constitution; it also could undermine some of the populist rhetoric that propelled Trump to victory in 2024.
The political pitfalls are already emerging in a new poll out Wednesday that shows 55 percent of voters think Musk has accumulated too much power….
A month into Trump’s second term, the official “administrator” of DOGE is still unknown. The group’s specific role in efforts to dismantle agencies, terminate employees and cut programs is still unclear. And its central staff is housed in the Executive Office of the President, which contains some components that courts have held to be immune from the Freedom of Information Act. Musk, for his part, has been designated as a Trump adviser not part of that formal structure….