Ahead of his first Cabinet meeting of the new term on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump asserted that the “cabinet members are extremely happy with Elon.” Musk is set to be among those in attendance at the meeting.
Despite not being a Cabinet member or requiring Senate confirmation, Elon Musk’s presence at the formal White House meeting alongside Trump’s top officials has raised eyebrows amid growing tensions over his influence within the government.
Trump, however, downplayed concerns just before the meeting, sharing a post on Truth Social in support of Musk stating that: “ALL CABINET MEMBERS ARE EXTREMELY HAPPY WITH ELON. The Media will see that at the Cabinet Meeting this morning!!!”
According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Tech billionaire Elon Musk, who oversees the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), will attend the Cabinet meeting to discuss DOGE’s initiatives.
Although Musk does not hold a ministerial position or formal decision-making authority, Leavitt noted that he is officially classified as a “special government employee” and serves as a “senior adviser to the president” in his role leading DOGE.
Musk, the largest donor to Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, will be among several controversial figures attending the administration’s upcoming meeting.
The controversial appointees include Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his anti-vaccine stance, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who has promoted various conspiracy theories, and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News presenter facing sexual assault claims.
Despite Democratic opposition regarding qualifications and past conduct, the US Senate has endorsed all of Trump’s cabinet selections thus far.
The Republican Party’s slim Senate majority, coupled with limited internal opposition to Trump’s nominations, demonstrates his continued influence over the party, where dissenting voices have largely disappeared or been silenced.
Several cabinet nominees await Senate confirmation, including Labour Secretary nominee Lori Chavez-DeRemer, previously a congresswoman, and Linda McMahon, who previously served as Small Business Administration chief during Trump’s first term.
At DOGE, Musk faces internal challenges as one-third of his workforce resigned on Tuesday, following his controversial mass email to two million federal employees demanding work justification or face dismissal.
Since Trump’s inauguration, numerous employees, particularly those in probationary positions including recent hires, promotions, or role changes, have been dismissed.
