The upshot of this article, is that Musk is operating with no check on his power and impulses, Trump officials, GOP congresspeople, and even Trump himself are worried. And no wonder, Musk is playing Trump to his own ends. (gift link) www.nytimes.com/2025/02/03/u... - ThreadSky

clarajeffery.bsky.social • 19 days ago

The upshot of this article, is that Musk is operating with no check on his power and impulses, Trump officials, GOP congresspeople, and even Trump himself are worried.

And no wonder, Musk is playing Trump to his own ends. (gift link) https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/03/us/politics/musk-federal-government.html?unlocked_article_code=1.uE4.X2HB.dkhmA7KHgjCa&smid=url-share

Comments

tyrantbiggles.bsky.social•19 days ago

If the Trump White House ever starts publishing Trump's daily schedule like normal White Houses used to I predict every bullet point will be about Elon Musk.

drettibmed.bsky.social•19 days ago

Musk’s new quasi-agency shouldn’t be called DOGE - Department of Government Efficiency, it should be called HACK- Harnessing Authoritarianism to Control Knowledge. The putsch is on. Even if Trump were to fire Musk tomorrow, he now has enough data to undermine the US govt.

foundlingstein.bsky.social•19 days ago

Yep. He knew exactly what he was doing and he did it.
It’s done.
And so are we. Done for.

dontvotesplit.bsky.social•19 days ago

...his own ends, and Putin's

Threatening Canada with annexation benefits no one except Putin

benjkrause.bsky.social•19 days ago

Call the DC and/or Capitol police (are they separate entities?) And have Musk and his minions arrested for trespassing. That should slow them down at least. Give Congress time to get their shit together.

brentbradshaw.bsky.social•19 days ago

OH COOL "Mr. Musk’s allies now aim to inject artificial intelligence tools into government systems, using them to assess contracts and recommend cuts."

kspense.bsky.social•19 days ago

This is absolutely terrifying. I’m sure it won’t be used to train his ai at all 😩

brentbradshaw.bsky.social•19 days ago

I imagine he's already done it.

nlstaatsburger.bsky.social•19 days ago

My god.
This must stopped.

foundlingstein.bsky.social•19 days ago

Feels like it’s too late—damage already done.

gregorydoodles.bsky.social•19 days ago

Folks, we are in a crisis. The alarm is sounding. We need to fight this fascist group on all fronts and right now.
#WhateverWeHaveToDo

climatedefender.bsky.social•19 days ago

It's a coup you MF

manikodru.bsky.social•19 days ago

so they are now the deep state...

kvdd2.bsky.social•19 days ago

We really need the adults in the room to stand up, block doors, whatever it takes to keep these people at bay. I feel so bad for the rank and file, where are the big people...

sugarcubedog.bsky.social•19 days ago

Trump gave him permission.

foundlingstein.bsky.social•19 days ago

Trump had no idea what he was doing. Just said, “Do whatever the hell you want.”

sugarcubedog.bsky.social•19 days ago

He knows

judyz.bsky.social•19 days ago

📌

strangelynow.bsky.social•19 days ago

Is Trump so indebted t Musk that he can’t check him?

kspense.bsky.social•19 days ago

I don’t think Trump has any idea what Musk is doing

strangelynow.bsky.social•19 days ago

He doesn’t care about the country. It’s for their personal benefit.

kspense.bsky.social•19 days ago

To clarify I wasn’t defended TFG (I never would!) I think he’s too dumb and doesn’t care to know what Musk is up to

strangelynow.bsky.social•19 days ago

Agree

kspense.bsky.social•19 days ago

💯

foundlingstein.bsky.social•19 days ago

Right. All he cares about is that he’s not in jail. Instead, sitting in the Oval, scratching out his sig on EOs. It’s just another season of The Apprentice to him.

His cult buys the story of his hugga-hugga-he-man routine bringing bullies to N & S to their knees.

We are so fucked.😭

hartpi.bsky.social•19 days ago

Trump owes Musk, and Musk owns Trump.

starlightwishes.bsky.social•19 days ago

I don't know if Trump has any real power left. He's handed it all over to Muck. Trump is basically only a figurehead now.

rdthorsett.bsky.social•19 days ago

Pretty sure Trump could have the Secret Service frog-march Musk and his minions off government property... Even have him arrested -- he has actually broken laws.

strangelynow.bsky.social•19 days ago

He’s not interested in governing. He met his goal to stay out of jail and have access to all the state’s revenue. Now he can go back to golfing.

foundlingstein.bsky.social•19 days ago

Bobblehead, actually. He doesn’t even know what’s going on. They have him propped up with a Sharpie in the Oval.

mindonfire.bsky.social•19 days ago

Thank you for using a gift link, Clara 🙌

lmkona.bsky.social•19 days ago

isthisrob.bsky.social•19 days ago

Trump's worried? Wow, President Musk got him on the run!

latinbishop.bsky.social•19 days ago

Here is the problem. Where is the FBI , absent like on Jan 6

clarajeffery.bsky.social•19 days ago

I think Musk will be the undoing of Trump somehow. The only question is does the United States of America die first.

daisygrace.bsky.social•19 days ago

I was just saying this to a friend. I think Musk will turn on Trump and it will all be over. It will be ugly. A lot of damage done. I just hope we can recover.

clarajeffery.bsky.social•19 days ago

I think it's worth remembering how prone Trump is to fawn over people who are even bigger strongmen than he is and also...he's lost many cognitive steps since 2016.

apiercingtruth.bsky.social•19 days ago

Trump has no idea what Elon is doing. It will not end well for Musk. People are scratching their heads bc of the strangeness of his narcissistic gall to just do whatever he pleases. But if he actually thinks he can walk into the Treasury 1/

apiercingtruth.bsky.social•19 days ago

and mess with Social Security, Medicare, Veteran’s benefits, tax funds etc, he’s a dead man walking. There will not only be protests and riots in the streets, but MAGA will literally try to kill him. Trump’s response will be “I didn’t authorize him to do all that.” 2/

strangelynow.bsky.social•19 days ago

Fired Bannon( but just for appearance). He’ll do the same with Musk. They need each other as accomplices.

wanderwomannc.bsky.social•19 days ago

It’s almost like Trump was instructed to permit Musk to run amok in the government while Trump focuses on land grabs.

missokane.bsky.social•19 days ago

And he knows he's deeply tied to him because he is the richest person in the world. Biggest, craziest, shittiest boat anchor ever.

richfoxexists.bsky.social•19 days ago

There has to be a concerted comms effort to make Trump look stupid and unable to do his job.

writingallwrongs.bsky.social•19 days ago

Pretty sure it's already obvious so what are they waiting for?

writingallwrongs.bsky.social•18 days ago

If it's obvious what is it? What should they/we do? Maybe start with what caused this. The voters created this problem so we are part of the solution.

A thought - everybody connect with a MAGA friend/relative & don't stop confronting them with facts... constructively, nice.

krisellyn.bsky.social•19 days ago

He's using Musk to break things permanently, and then will scapegoat him. Wouldn't be surprised if Musk has a little accident when Trump no longer likes sharing the limelight.

hopefulhuman.bsky.social•19 days ago

I believe with everything I have that Musk bought the Presidency for Trump. I'm not sure how Trump is going to rein him in. If I'm right, Trump is powerless to stop him. He wouldn't want proof of his actual stolen election to be made public.

antsybee.bsky.social•19 days ago

And is the next in line better or worse? I'm starting to wonder if that's actually the plan ... ?

krismckay.bsky.social•19 days ago

This is the crux of it. The US falls because of the vanity and narcissism of two humans.

basedjameskpolk.bsky.social•19 days ago

"Engineers."

herronbird.bsky.social•19 days ago

@nytimes.com and nyt pitch bot could have written the headline 🫠

santarosadude.bsky.social•19 days ago

I have to think that trump and the rest of the Republicans in congress want musk to run amok and erase agencies and fire federal workers because they can't do it through the legislative process and now they can blame someone else who's not accountable.

gheem.bsky.social•19 days ago

This is chilling, a bunch of punk ass kids carving up the lives of millions of Americans with zero accountability…….this is worse than I even thought. Fuck it’s gonna be a long four years unless we can get this invasion stopped sooner.

teddyfan.bsky.social•19 days ago

Gee, if only Trump and the GOP had the power to do something to stop him…

jilrubia.bsky.social•19 days ago

Unless Trump proves otherwise, Musk has more power than the President right now.
Trump looks like he got played.

kspense.bsky.social•19 days ago

Is there really nothing we can do to stop a coup?? We’re just going to watch democracy die on our F-ing phones?!

whiplashgrlchld.bsky.social•19 days ago

Trump can end it. Imprison Elon, Trump. Be the strong guy. What Elon is doing makes Trump look bad. Trump should care & act accordingly!

transdogdad.bsky.social•19 days ago

On Feb 5th there will be protests at all 50 State Capitols. THIS WED. Let's do this.

ndylan.bsky.social•19 days ago

📌

donnamct.bsky.social•19 days ago

Thank you for gift, Clara. 📌

foodethicist.bsky.social•19 days ago

Musk has taken Trump for the gullible self-deluding imbecile we all know Trump to be.

kspense.bsky.social•19 days ago

💯 he bought himself a country

apiercingtruth.bsky.social•19 days ago

It won’t last. MAGA will be the ones to bring him to a screeching halt. They’re slow but if he messes with anybody’s money, MAGA will come after him with guns and pitchforks!

foodethicist.bsky.social•19 days ago

Reflecting on your comment, I’m wondering if Trump’s loyal WhiteMAGA will tolerate Musk whatever he does as long as he rigs the US Treasury systems to disadvantage and oppress non-white Americans and benefit enormously WhiteMAGA consistent with his obvious Nazi-Apartheid values.

foundlingstein.bsky.social•19 days ago

I called this very early on—as soon as Dipshit started showing up at Donald’s rallies: people were saying Donald would be throwing him under the bus. I said, No—it’s Dipshit who’ll be throwing Donald.
Now here we are.
Biden foolishly handed over the keys to Donald, & now Dipshit’s running the show.

treeesq.bsky.social•19 days ago

The article uses ridiculously positive language to report on what Musk is doing, falling just short of praise, using remarkably pathetic euphemisms for clearly illegal behavior. Sad to see the NYT normalizing this outrageous conduct and not calling it what it is.

gj2blu.bsky.social•19 days ago

No one, NO ONE voted to give Musk (and the Heritage Foundation oligarchs) the keys to steal OUR Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, aid for children, money for infrastructure, etc. NO ONE!

apiercingtruth.bsky.social•19 days ago

Wait until the MAGA morons finally figure out he wants to tap into their social security and/or veteran disability funds.

gj2blu.bsky.social•19 days ago

Egggzzctly! Once they figure out How they’ve been had, I think they’re going to be major pissed!

foundlingstein.bsky.social•19 days ago

gj2blu.bsky.social•19 days ago

¡Nice! 😬

yendor888.bsky.social•18 days ago

Listen very carefully to Trump speak on Musk’s power in the govt. Notice Trump uses the word, “we”oversee everything he does; he doesn’t do anything without “us”. If approvals for Musk goes south , he will distance himself by saying “HE didn’t approve anything. Get ready for it.

mskanin.bsky.social•19 days ago

but wait- the article is playing softball rather than hardball-- not kidglove treatment of an administrative insurrectionist

cookingtheresa.bsky.social•19 days ago

Coup

factsnotprops.bsky.social•19 days ago

I sincerely doubt “Trump is worried”. If he wanted to do something about it he would.

archwonk.bsky.social•19 days ago

Thank you!

snzuluz7.bsky.social•19 days ago

Trump is not worried and confirmed he sanctioned Musks action, there is no conflict he said or we'd hear from him quickly. If we had someone with balls to arrest Musk for Treason we could revoke his citizenship, send him to SA minus billions it costs to restore systems. Then go after Trump.

profstykel.bsky.social•19 days ago

I mean just a little over a month ago, we learned how to deal with shitbag CEOs. The authorities need to arrest his ass because otherwise people will end up taking matters into their own hands.

tom-terrific.bsky.social•19 days ago

If GOP congresspeople are "worried," here's what they can do: Impeach and convict trump, and tell JD Vance that he's next if the fuckery continues. 72 hours.

akatzel.bsky.social•18 days ago

With this access, Elon Musk now owns Trump and every federal elected official. Who has the ability to object when he decides to divert funds away from a program or payee to serve his own ends?

Heckuva job Scotty - you just made yourself and the legislative branch irrelevant.

daisymaedog.bsky.social•19 days ago

Someone needs to stop this maniac. Apparently, there is no one who is capable of doing so, per the article.

foundlingstein.bsky.social•19 days ago

Best we can hope for is international intervention.

trekologer.net•19 days ago

Agency oversight is a power and responsibility of Congress. Republicans’ silence on Musk’s slash and burn moves is a tacit acknowledgment that they’re incompetent at their jobs.

phillysky.bsky.social•19 days ago

michnz.bsky.social•19 days ago

There’s a reason musk stayed by Ts side during the transition…he was grooming him and my guess, it wasn’t just for himself. Remember, that he’s been communicating with Putin over the last couple of years. And P has been grooming Trump since 1987.

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