When Senator Bernie Sanders encourages large demonstrations, there is 1 name that peculiarly moves the crowd: Elon Musk. — distant with him — he had late shouted to thousands of cheering fans in Los Angeles 83-year-old independent senator from Vermont State. It's not Donald Trump, but Tesla's boss is presently driving the Democrats and the left into rage. This is due to the fact that the President's chief advisor is liable for cuts in government programs and dismissal of civilian servants.
However, the days erstwhile the Muska Government's Department of Efficiency (DOGE) all day went to the front pages of newspapers were over. It got quiet around a billionaire. At the beginning of the month, it was reported that he would shortly leave the government. However, its "quiet retreat" began even earlier.
Musk goes into the shadows
The contrast between Elon Musk from the beginnings of Trump's presidency and this from the present times is huge. In January, the recently appointed government advisor did not step aside Trump, gave double interviews with him, and willingly accepted the function of lightning rod for criticism of the President.
After taking office, he declared that he would save $1 trillion, or at best two. It rapidly became clear that this goal would be subject to everything: government agencies were closed overnight and their workers were fired. He did not care that these moves were from a controversial point of view.
EPA/SAMUEL CORUM / PAPElon Musk and Donald Trump, Washington, USA, March 11, 2025.
Federal officials received e-mails asking them to mention the 5 things they did during the week. They were told that the deficiency of answers would be equivalent to dismissal. Under the threat of police force, Muska's employees gained access to buildings and computer systems.
That's erstwhile the Democrats targeted the billionaire. The “anti-DOGE” protests began to take place erstwhile and for all throughout the country, sometimes involving respective 100 people in tiny cities or thousands, if politicians called for them to organize them.
Meanwhile, Musk's behaviour has completely changed. erstwhile he speaks, he does it in a much more average way. In late March, he gave an interview for the Fox News tv channel, in which he sought to ease the temper and represent himself as a servant of the ‘common good’. “ At last America will get much better,” he said.
In another statements, he even criticized the president of the United States. For example, after Trump announced on April 2, “The Day of Liberation” in which he imposed tariffs worldwide, Musk advocated zero tariffs. He besides harshly criticized Trump's trade counsellor, Peter Navarro, who is considered to be the main originator of tariff policy, stating that "is dumber than a bag of bricks‘.
He's not that cocky now. While Trump spoke first in his first gathering of the cabinet and criticized individual members at later meetings, specified as the Secretary of State Marco Rubio, he is now more restrained. The office is “fantastic”, DOGE does “many good things”, which will lead to “better service to Americans”, he assured last week. He besides talked about savings of 150 billion dollars (565 billion PLN). There was no more talk of a trillion.
Chain saw has been deactivated
The more restrained image of Musk goes hand in hand with limiting his influence. Early in March, Trump made it clear to members of his cabinet that they did not gotta accept anything Musk would think. He assured them that they could decide where to make their savings. "Skalpel, not an axe," Trump wrote on the fact Social platform, describing a fresh approach. The chain saw that Musk received as a gift from president of Argentina Javier Milei at the end of February, it was deactivated.
More and more department heads began writing to their officials that they did not gotta send Musko weekly work reports. Initially, any continued to do so, but now even the staff of the National wellness Institute no longer respond to Musk's emails.
The White home besides began to diminish the influence and position of the Musk. Finally, his appointment as a “special worker” led the government to legal trouble. There are respective lawsuits pending, the authors of which argue that Musk does not have the power to do all that DOGE does.
In court testimony, the White home admitted that Musk does not truly have broad powers. “Mr Musk is an worker of the White House. Mr. Musk is not a DOGE administrator," says a White home message filed at the Washington territory Court.
In another suit before the Maryland national court, the Department of Justice explained that "Mr Musk has no office and has the power to legally issue instructions from USAID or any another agency". The justice issued a temporary ban preventing Musk and DOGE from closing government agencies. In both cases, the appeal court must now make its decision.
With Musk's resignation from the advisory post, the government will avoid legal problems that could arise from his further involvement. However, there is no uncertainty that DOGE will continue. No institution, no program is presently resistant to cuts. late Trump expressed hope that DOGE staff would stay in position. “I hope your people proceed their work,” he told Musk last week.
Motivator for the opposition
With Musk gone into the shadows, political attacks of his opponents may besides vanish into thin air. The head of Tesla has not only become a welcome “terrorist” for Senator Sanders, with whom he mobilizes his supporters. He besides became a good motivator for the opposition.
For example, the Democrats had a clear triumph in the election for the fresh justice of the Wisconsin ultimate CourtBecause Musk aggressively supported Republican candidate. The DOGE chief proved to be a mediocre train horse for the campaign.
This is besides confirmed by its popularity indicators. According to the Silver Bulletin poll, 53% of Americans have a negative opinion of Musk — that's a evidence advanced score. At the November presidential election, it was only 44 percent.
