Musk has since tried to shift blame and downplay his role in the outcome.
He’s also apparently hoping to shut down Democrats’ suggestions that his outsize role in the legislative process indicates that he’s the one truly pulling the strings in the incoming Trump administration.
Many Democrats leapt on the events of the week to say just that: “The leader of the GOP is Elon Musk,” tweeted Representative Brendan Boyle.
“I don’t know why Trump doesn’t just hand him the Oval Office,” said Representative Greg Cesar.
“It’s clear who’s in charge, and it’s not President-elect Donald Trump,” posted Pramila Jayapal, saying Trump followed the lead of “Shadow President Elon Musk.”
(Jayapal’s were the comments that specifically drew Meservey’s, and in turn Musk’s, ire.).
On Thursday, a Trump spokesperson insisted that the president-elect, and no one else, was in charge, saying, “President Trump is the leader of the Republican Party. »
