DISCLAIMER: This article was first published in February 2025
It was a bizarre scene, even by the standards of the second Trump presidency: Donald Trump and Elon Musk, side by side in the Oval Office on Tuesday, answering questions from the assembled press, mainly about Musk’s DOGE efforts that have extralegally taken a hammer to the institutions of the federal government. Musk’s son, known as X, appeared to have the run of the Oval Office, at one point going up on his father’s shoulders (and drawing a rebuke later on from his mother, Grimes.)
According to a CNN commentator, the display shows that Musk is “a menacing foe for the federal government and why President Donald Trump is playing with fire by ceding him so much power.”
One of many great observations in Lawrence O’Donnell’s open tonight. pic.twitter.com/qACGNSG0um
— Peter Mallett (@PeterMallett9) February 12, 2025
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According to the New York Times, Musk made “sweeping claims” about fraud without providing proof. At one point, after a reporter pointed out that the “millions for condoms in Gaza” claim didn’t work, Musk admitted that “we will make mistakes. But we’ll act quickly to correct any mistakes.”
In an epic, 17-minute segment on Tuesday night, MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell interpreted the Oval Office meeting as Trump being “subservient” to Musk.
“A key visited the Oval Office, a real king,” O’Donnell said, referring not to Trump or Musk but to King Abdullah of Jordan. But later in the day, as O’Donnell pointed out, Musk pointed out “a picture of presidential subservience the likes of which we have never seen.”
Elon even defies all of Trump’s rules! the dress code, and no kids allowed in the oval office or at work, proving once again that he is in charge and Trump is not. Musk and his 4 yr old son both interrupted Trump and Trump looked very angry and turned away from the kid. pic.twitter.com/gU35jwxuVo
— Dobie! Maga debunker. (@GallihughDeb) February 12, 2025
According to the MSNBC host, Musk did “everything he possibly can to tell the world, without saying a word, that ‘Donald Trump is not the boss of me,'” which is not something those around Trump typically do.
In the usual billionaire fashion, Musk did not adhere to the standard White House dress codes and brought his young son, which is certainly not typical of presidential visitors. He even pointed out that Musk spoke more words at the press event than Trump did, which was unprecedented in Trump’s political career.
Will this ultimately lead to Trump tiring of Musk? With many years left in the presidency, that’s very possible.
Photo courtesy of the Political Tribune media library.
