US voters re-elected Donald Trump. At the moment, it looks like they also elected Elon Musk. He's acting like a shadow president, Peter Kafka writes.

Summary

Elon Musk, having endorsed and campaigned for Donald Trump, is now acting as a “shadow president,” advising on policies and personnel, and joining Trump on calls with world leaders.

This unprecedented relationship between the world’s richest man and the leader of the free world raises concerns about the influence of wealth on government.

While both Trump and Musk have incentives to continue their partnership, their volatile personalities and differing expertise may lead to a breakup in the future.

  • @Treczoks
    37•1 month ago

    An illegal immigrant in the White House? Consistency was never a strong point of the GOP.

    • Queen HawlSeraEnglish
      6•1 month ago

      Every accusation, no matter how absurd is a confession. Now the White House is probably gonna smell like hummus, because that’s something they said would happen under Kamela (no seriously)

    • @nutsack
      -1•1 month ago

      why would he be considered illegal

      • @Mirshe
        12•1 month ago

        Because he admitted to illegally staying here to start his business after running out his student visa? And that he knew this was entirely illegal the entire time?

        • @nutsack
          1•1 month ago

          ok good? thanks? question mark? sounds like he got it sorted out at some point? and he didn’t get deported because donald trump wasn’t the president? i like to talk like this?

      • @[email protected]
        6•1 month ago

        https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/10/27/elon-musk-immigration/

        “We don’t want our founder being deported,” said Derek Proudian, the Zip2 board member, who later became chief executive.

        Literally the people working with him were afraid of his lack of visa and worked to get him one.

        In a 2005 email obtained by The Post, Musk wrote that he had applied to a Stanford University graduate program, which he did not end up attending, so he could stay in the country.

        He claims that he had a J-1, but unfortunately

        “There are work options during studies, while engaged in a full course of study, and also after the completion of studies,” said Adam Cohen, author of “The Academic Immigration Handbook” and an attorney who specializes in employment visas. “But dropping out of school does not allow for work authorization. So there is a quite a gap there.”

        He spent his time trying to get loopholes to remain, and used them incorrectly. He was an illegal.