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Rep. Tony Gonzales Calls Elon Musk 'Our Prime Minister' Amid Budget Dispute, Citing Musk's $277M Support for Trump

Dec 22, 2024, 05:52 PM

Republican Representative Tony Gonzales of Texas likened Elon Musk to an unelected prime minister due to the Tesla CEO's involvement in a contentious funding fight on Capitol Hill. This week's budget dispute saw Musk's influence play a role in the rejection of a 1,500-page bill, which Gonzales criticized as failing the 'smell test.' Gonzales, who spoke with Musk multiple times during the week, argued that Musk's voice reflects the sentiments of the American people. Musk, who spent $277 million to support Donald Trump's election campaign and has since become a key member of Trump's brain trust, voiced his opposition to the initial bill over 100 times on his social media platform X. The situation culminated in Congress approving a significantly shorter funding measure to avert a government shutdown, a move that Musk expressed satisfaction with. Gonzales, among 34 Republicans who opposed the final measure, praised House Speaker Mike Johnson for his efforts in navigating the situation and maintaining party unity, especially in the context of President-elect Trump's new agency, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).