US President Donald Trump may be “playing with fire” by giving billionaire Elon Musk too much power after the decree on February 11.

US President Donald Trump on February 11 signed a new executive order, directing federal agencies to work closely with billionaire Elon Musk to reduce the workforce by determining which government employees can be laid off and which functions should be eliminated completely.

Present in the Oval Office that same day, Musk wore a MAGA (Make America Great Again) hat, a dark coat, and sometimes carried his son Lil X on his shoulders.

Speaking to reporters alongside Musk, President Trump said the Office of Government Efficiency (DOGE) had helped uncover “billions of dollars in waste, fraud and abuse,” adding that the final figure could eventually be “close to a trillion dollars .”

Elon Musk speaks while carrying his son X on his shoulders in the Oval Office at the White House. Photo: Reuters.

Elon Musk speaks while carrying his son X on his shoulders in the Oval Office at the White House. Photo: Reuters.

According to CNN, the announcement on February 11 was not only intended to calm growing political anxiety about the Government Effectiveness Board. It also seemed to show that real power in Washington lies somewhere between the egos of the most powerful man in the world and the richest man in the world.

The scene also served as a clear demonstration of the close relationship between Mr Trump and Mr Musk, amid ongoing speculation about the US president’s tolerance for a figure who is equally as likely to attract attention.

Time magazine’s cover features Elon Musk sitting behind the presidential desk. Photo: Time.

Time magazine’s cover features Elon Musk sitting behind the presidential desk. Photo: Time.

And no one could miss the detail on February 11. Mr. Trump sat firmly behind the Resolute desk, while Musk stood to his right. The image was a subtle rebuttal to the Time magazine cover , which depicted Musk sitting in the president’s chair of power.

CNN has reviewed rare examples of how great wealth can bring great power. Musk has great respect for Mr. Trump, and the two seem to enjoy each other’s company.

However, with his huge fortune and explosive media platform on the X network, Musk will certainly be a figure that Mr. Trump will have to be careful of.

Try to soothe

The joint appearance of the two comes after a public backlash over Trump’s move to upend the government and empower billionaire Elon Musk to implement his campaign of drastic cuts.

Musk’s group, which has been brought in to the federal government, has already shuttered a slew of agencies, including the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Now, they’re setting their sights on bigger targets.

However, the effort is now mired in multiple lawsuits. Statements from senior officials, including Vice President JD Vance, have raised concerns that the White House could trigger a constitutional crisis if it ignores court rulings, such as blocking DOGE from accessing Treasury Department records containing sensitive personal data.

Musk passionately argued that his initiative was justified because of rampant waste.

He implicitly justified his attempt to gain access to the Treasury’s payments system by claiming that he had discovered a serious flaw in the accounting system.

At the same time, he rejected criticism that an unelected individual was holding great power at the heart of government, insisting that he was fighting to protect democracy, not destroy it.

Meanwhile, when asked whether he would accept the court’s rulings – which Mr Trump said were slowing down his rapid progress in his second term – the US president replied: “I always obey the court.”

“Always comply with the court and we will appeal,” he said.

The statement may temporarily ease concerns about a constitutional crisis. However, CNN noted that Mr. Trump had previously ignored court orders to refrain from speaking during his hush money trial.

President Donald Trump with billionaire Elon Musk and his son X in the Oval Office at the White House. Photo: Washington Post.

President Donald Trump with billionaire Elon Musk and his son X in the Oval Office at the White House. Photo: Washington Post.

“Time bomb”

As the new head of Trump’s Office of Government Effectiveness, Musk has been careful to show respect for the president, insisting he’s always calling to make sure he’s doing what Trump wants.

Musk’s explanations on February 11 also aimed to dispel the impression that he was secretly destroying the federal apparatus without any real oversight, while also rejecting allegations of serious conflicts of interest.

Musk’s willingness to answer questions from the media marks the first time he has been so open.

“We really try to be as transparent as possible. So all of our actions are as transparent as possible. I don’t know of a more transparent organization than the Board of Government Effectiveness,” Musk said.

Musk’s presentation helps explain why, despite the backlash, Trump’s lean campaign has been a political success, at least for now.

Americans voted for change in November 2024. They were angry at an administration that many felt had ignored their needs as Joe Biden’s term stagnated in its final months.

Trump’s supporters want exactly the kind of sweeping reforms he is proposing. For decades, large-scale spending cuts have been, at least in theory, a popular issue.

“The people voted for radical government reform, and that’s exactly what they’re going to get,” Musk said. “That’s what democracy is all about.”

Musk’s initial success came from a strategy of targeting the easiest targets, like USAID and the CFPB.

According to CNN , foreign aid is rarely popular with voters, especially during a White House run by an “America First” president. Meanwhile, the CFPB has long been in the crosshairs of Republican lawmakers.

US President Donald Trump. Photo: Reuters.

US President Donald Trump. Photo: Reuters.

However, the next targets could cause more serious political damage to President Trump and his supporters.

He has indicated that the Department of Education is at the top of his list of reforms. During his campaign, he talked about dismantling and eventually closing the Department of Education, which he described as spreading racial and gender extremist ideology into the nation’s public school system.

However, any disruption to student loans or critical education programs in the states could anger voters.

On February 11, Mr. Trump called for the disbandment of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) – an organization that he has repeatedly criticized in recent months for allegedly failing to assist North Carolina residents after the 2024 storm.

The idea of ​​completely transferring disaster aid to the states sounds sensible and budget-saving, and would help cut down on bureaucracy. But losing FEMA’s expertise and operations could be a “ticking time bomb” for the White House if future relief responses fail.

The risk of Musk becoming the center of scandal also loomed over the joint press conference.

The billionaire claims that the multi-billion dollar contracts his company is receiving from the federal government are public, and anyone can check to see if he is profiting.

However, according to CNN , this argument is difficult to convince, especially when a tech mogul like Musk now oversees agencies that are responsible for overseeing his own companies.