During the US government shutdown crisis, Elon Musk emerged as a significant figure, influencing key decisions while collaborating with President-elect Donald Trump to shape a bipartisan funding bill.
As the Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed legislation to prevent a government shutdown, attention shifted to the Democratic-controlled Senate, which needed to approve the bill before the current funding expired at midnight. The White House confirmed President Joe Biden’s readiness to sign the bill into law if passed.
A government shutdown would have severe consequences, halting services like law enforcement, closing national parks, and delaying paychecks for millions of federal workers. It could also disrupt the travel industry, with experts warning of potential losses of $1 billion per week for airlines, hotels, and other businesses during the busy holiday season.
The funding package, approved with a bipartisan vote of 366-34, resembled an earlier proposal that faced criticism from Trump and Musk for including unrelated provisions like pay raises for lawmakers and stricter regulations on pharmacy benefit managers.
Trump’s involvement in the funding debate came as no surprise. He strongly advocated for raising the debt ceiling, framing it as a critical issue that would extend the nation’s borrowing capacity into the new year. On social media, Trump made his stance clear: “If there is going to be a government shutdown, let it begin now,” emphasizing that increasing the debt limit was non-negotiable.
This position caused tension within the GOP, particularly among fiscal conservatives who opposed raising the debt ceiling. House Speaker Mike Johnson faced the challenge of balancing Trump’s demands with the need to prevent a government shutdown.
Musk’s influence extended beyond the private sector as Trump enlisted him to lead a budget-cutting task force, despite Musk holding no official government role. Together, Trump and Musk criticized an earlier version of the funding bill, mobilizing their social media platforms to voice opposition to provisions they deemed unnecessary.
Using his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), Musk applied pressure on lawmakers and shaped public opinion. He criticized the proposed bill for including measures such as pay raises for lawmakers and restrictions on Chinese investments, rallying his followers and amplifying his impact on the legislative process.
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