Elon Musk's growing influence in the Donald Trump administration

As Elon Musk's influence continues to grow in the White House, questions are being raised about the tech billionaire's power over President Donald Trump.

Speaking to IOL, an international relations expert said Musk and Trump's relationship is fuelled by their white supremist ideologies. 

Pretoria-born Musk, 54, this year assumed the position of Trump's senior advisor and was announced as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). From this position, Musk is effectively a 'special government employee', allowing him to move beyond financial disclosures. He is also exempt from a public vetting process.

It is no secret that Musk, the father of 14 children with four different women, spent more than $250 million on Trump's reelection efforts and thus catapulted his questionable path to the Oval Office.

With Trump's backing, Musk shot down the USAID, effectively closing the tap of much-needed aid relief programmes. He has also led the charge in mass firings within the federal government.

Unpacking the relationship between Musk and Trump

Expert of international relations, Professor John Stremlau, said Musk, who became a US citizen in 2002, and Trump share a symbiotic relationship because they share the same values. "These values are white nationalist values - that's the core of it," he said.

Stremlau said the two see the world through the same lens.

Unprecedented

Stremlau explained that Musk's influence is unprecedented.

"I've never seen the likes of Elon Musk given it such authority by a sitting president. It's unprecedented, and the assumption is that Musk can wipe his hands and just walk off into the sunset, not pay any consequence, because he's protected by the President, but he's not subject to congressional review or approval," he said.

He added that the fault lies with Congress for giving so much authority to the presidency.

Looking at a specific instance where Musk directly influenced the Trump administration's policy decisions, Stremlau referred to a recent post on X by US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, declining to attend the G20 meeting in South Africa.

"This was not only an intrusion into the domestic affairs in South Africa but it sounded like it had been written by Elon Musk or Donald Trump, about South Africa doing 'very bad things'. Come on, that's not Marco Rubio not talking," he said.

Stremlau also referred to the decision to cut aid to South Africa based on what he called egregious behaviour on the part of South Africa and the invitation to AfriForum.

"Well, that's Trump and Musk again," he added.

Legacy

Looking at the legacy of the Trump administration, Stremlau said he hopes it doesn't last long.

He explained that the short term 'legacy' may be devasting enough.

"The wholesale attack on the US government is a concern but Musk has been really sloppy in his accounting of the cuts. It is not clear what was cut and what was not cut and Musk is making mistakes all over the place," he said.

Damage done

Stremlau said no one can rely on the US going forward.

"It's all unfolding so rapidly and so unprecedently that it's really very hard to forecast what the legacy of Donald Trump will be," he said.

Stremlau added that it remains to be seen if Trump can be reigned in by the 2026 Congressional Elections.

Lawsuits against Musk

Meanwhile, criticism is mounting against Musk by Americans who see him as an unelected official.

ABC News reported that there are two lawsuits questioning whether Musk's DOGE role is constitutional. This could massively impact on some of Musk's changes to federal agencies, property, staffing, and policy.

The outcome of those cases remain to be seen. 

seanne.rall@iol.co.za

IOL