In Phoenix, President-elect Donald Trump made it clear that the idea of being outshone by Elon Musk, his well-known billionaire ally, is purely fictional. This follows a week where Musk played a pivotal role in disrupting an emergency spending bill intended to avoid a government shutdown.
Trump outright dismissed the notion that he has “ceded the presidency” to Musk, pointing out that Musk could never hold the position due to the U.S. Constitution’s stipulation that a president must be a natural-born citizen. Musk, being born in South Africa, doesn’t meet this requirement.
“No, he’s not going to be president, that I can tell you,” Trump stated confidently. “And I’m safe. You know why he can’t be? He wasn’t born in this country.”
Speaking at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest conference in Phoenix, Trump addressed thousands of enthusiastic conservative supporters. This marked his first rally-like event since the election, and the crowd welcomed him with fervor amid a spectacular display of lights and pyrotechnics.
Amidst curling smoke and sparklers, the audience chanted “Trump! Trump! Trump!” as the incoming president, sporting his well-known suit and long red tie, took the stage.
“The golden age of America is upon us,” Trump declared.
He also mentioned that Russian President Vladimir Putin is eager to meet with him “as soon as possible” to discuss ending the “horrible, horrible” war between Russia and Ukraine—a conflict Trump had promised to quickly resolve during his campaign, leveraging his perceived rapport with both Putin and Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Switching to another foreign policy topic, Trump voiced concerns about Panama charging excessive fees for access to the Panama Canal, a crucial maritime route. He warned that if Panama doesn’t adjust these fees, he would push to regain U.S. control over the canal, which was transferred to Panama in a treaty signed by then-President Jimmy Carter in 1977.
“We’re being ripped off at the Panama Canal like we’re being ripped off everywhere else,” he asserted.
Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino took to social media to affirm that the canal belongs to Panama and is not open to negotiation over its sovereignty.
On the domestic front, Trump unveiled a new campaign-style initiative aimed at curbing drug use. “We are going to advertise how bad drugs are for you,” he explained, emphasizing the detrimental effects on appearance, “They ruin your look, your face, your skin, and your teeth. If you want to have horrible teeth, take a lot of fentanyl.”
Trump’s participation in the conference followed a tense political week in Washington, D.C., nearly culminating in a government shutdown. Trump and Musk successfully thwarted Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson’s emergency spending proposal, compelling lawmakers to devise a viable alternative mere hours before the deadline.
Musk, who owns the social media platform X, posted extensively against the original spending deal, hinting at how he might leverage his influence in Trump’s upcoming term.
Amidst this political drama, some Democrats sarcastically dubbed Musk “President Musk.” However, the historical pattern suggests that those who divert the spotlight from Trump usually don’t remain in his circle for long.
Despite potential tensions, Trump’s comments imply he seeks to maintain a collaborative relationship with Musk for the time being. Musk contributed over $250 million toward Trump’s election efforts, and Trump appointed him to spearhead a new non-governmental office focused on reducing government expenditures and inefficiencies. Musk’s financial resources could also be influential in securing continued Republican support for Trump. Any GOP members considering opposing Trump may hesitate, fearing a well-funded primary challenge orchestrated by Musk.
At the conference, speakers underscored a unified front between Musk and Trump. Donald Trump Jr. addressed efforts by the media to portray discord, stating: “You see what the media is trying to do to break up the relationship my father has with Elon. They’re trying to cause that schism to prevent these guys from doing what they’re going to do best, and we cannot allow that.”
Senator Markwayne Mullin from Oklahoma acknowledged Musk’s important role in trimming government waste, highlighting the value of Musk’s private-sector perspective on federal spending.
“He has a right to do it. He’s still a private citizen. He’s no different than anyone else,” Mullin said regarding Musk’s use of social media to voice his opinions.
As Trump prepares to transition from the 45th to the 47th presidency, he appeared to be in good spirits. While summoning Senator Ted Cruz to the stage, Trump jokingly noted Cruz’s absence, saying, “Is he here someplace? Ted? Ted? Oh, oh, he’s in trouble.” Cruz soon appeared, and the two exchanged a handshake and embrace.
Later, Trump humorously acknowledged an unfamiliar noise onstage, quipping, “What the hell was that? You get the little yips up here every once in a while.” Alluding to the assassination attempts he faced during the campaign, he added with a wry smile, “I wonder why.”
