Dems Wonder Who’s in Charge After Musk Torpedoes Spending Deal
House Democrats are busting a gut over the spending bill drama and what they characterized as the outsize influence of Elon Musk and others in President-elect Trump’s orbit after a bipartisan plan brokered by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., blew up.
Speaking to reporters outside a leadership meeting on Thursday, House Democrats expressed disappointment in Republicans for walking away from the negotiated argument, and many accused them of appearing to take cues from Musk.
Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., labeled the billionaire X owner “President Musk” while speaking to reporters Thursday.
“For the Republicans, for President Musk to come in at the last moment and blow up the deal is just intolerable,” Nadler said. “You have to negotiate, and you have to be able to enforce what you’re negotiating, and what was negotiated was a very good deal for the American people.”
Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., said their caucus is “disappointed” in House Speaker Johnson, saying it appeared as though Musk is “president” and Trump “vice president.”
This was echoed by Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas. “My main question is just if Elon Musk is kind of cosplaying co-president here, I don’t know why Trump doesn’t just hand him the Oval Office.”
“Speaker Johnson should maybe just hand Elon Musk the gavel if they just want that billionaire to run the country,” Casar told reporters outside a House Democrat leadership meeting.
House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., was emotional as she expressed her frustration with the protracted negotiation and a changed debt ceiling agreement, saying that, in her view, Republicans “need to do the right thing for once.”
She noted that she has “thousands of neighbors” and others in her district who are waiting for disaster aid or for a Small Business Administration loan. “Those are the loans that help people repair their homes. Those are the loans that help small businesses get back on their feet,” Clark said.
Neither Musk nor his team have yet to respond to Democrats’ accusations of his heavy-handed role in the spending bill negotiations.
Meanwhile, President-Elect Trump has endorsed getting rid of the debt ceiling as part of the spending package in an interview with NBC News.
Trump reportedly said abolishing the debt ceiling would be the “smartest thing [Congress] could do. I would support that entirely.”
As the oldest President-elect ever, King Felon Trump needs help to govern. As the self-professed smartest guy in the room, he needs a smarter guy now to help him govern, oops misspoke, help him issue edicts to his minions and fellow citizens, some of which are good people.
The Mump Regime is coming, the spending bill was the first touch. Hopefully, Mush has learned how to count votes now and will not make this stupid mistake again. You see Elon, in your world, you issue orders based on your whims and your worker bee oompa loompa’s carry them out or be fired. In politics, you listen to the people, get ideas, put proposals together, present to Congress and then actually call them to find out if you have the votes BEFORE you hit the floor. It’s called Pelosi/Schumer/McConnell 101 and has been known before the ratification of the Constitution.
It’s now the Mump Regime as a merger of Mush and Trump with Mush in front as this last spending bill clusterfuck shows. It’s a regime because they don’t have the skills to administer government.
Now, that’s based on this last case and I really don’t expect it to last. Mush looks stupid, incompetent and out of touch. He probably is not used to that and does not like it. Trump hates sharing the spotlight and only Mush’s millions paid probably has let it last this long. Certainly results haven’t.
Where it goes no one knows. But, based on yet another example of the art of the deal, we can be pretty sure stability is out and chaos and uncertainty is in. For Democrats working in government, that’s no big deal. They are all looking to get fired so this shit is of small importance. Already folks are cleansing their digital profiles, looking for real-world jobs, and leaving for better pay. Type A’s will go first. And that’s before Trump pulls Schedule F from the trash bin putting hundreds of thousands at risk of being replaced by ill-trained Project 2025 supplicants without skills having never working in government.
Two years: buckle up buttercups. Let the chaos begin!!!
You sure must hate this country . Get over it you lost.
And Mush won. He bought he way to power in our democracy. Is that how it works for you guys? You must surely hate this country to sell it to the highest bidder.
No The Country won . For the first time in a long time the country will have to live on a budget . Quit the wasteful spending. No more paying off student loans. Oh gee OBiden did it anyway.
SP, as an Independent / Unaffiliated voter, what I observed under the previous Trump administration was that the country not only did not live on a budget, but also it spent $8 Trillion more than it took in – thus a huge increase to national debt.
So where is your evidence that the second Trump administration will do what you say and “live on a budget”?
Now now Tom. You forgot what Turnip did with all that cash. He returned the lowest gdp growth since Hoover with all those new factories.
SDP, your view that Dems hate the country just because they do not agree with what the GOP is doing these days is tragically stupid!
SDP, many independents do not agree with what the GOP is doing either!
SDP, you must really hate democracy if you like what the GOP is doing!
SDP, I am an Independent / Unaffiliated voter. I am a Vietnam Era Veteran, small business owner, Government secret clearance holder, no criminal record, always paid my fair share of taxes, private capital investor, always contributed to churches and poor and good causes that help humanity, and I do not like what Trump is doing either!
Jerry Nadler be careful what you ask for. You may see Elon as President. Also hold Clintons accountable with no preemptive pardons allowed. Are the Rules made up and changed at will for the interest of the elite!!!!!
What is the problem here ? Can’t get use to the fact that there is a new sheriff in town ? The democrats don’t understand that they are the swamp and they are being drained.
Steven, yeah, that spending bill was the art of the deal for sure. President Mush is a neophyte in government.
Frank, Obiden is still running things and still needs to sign it. You had your joker in office ,so now we can quit blowing money.
Remember the discussion here is WHO IS IN CHARGE!
The country has been asking this for the last 4 years!
And still NO answer from the left!
Actually, Dems are not the only ones asking “Who’s running the show?” Many Independents and many Trump voters with buyer’s remorse are asking the same question!
I do not recall Musk on the ballot?
Trump said Biden was demented and not able to govern. Seems like Trump is much the same. I do like the recent memes of Musk walking his Trump dog and Musk holding the strings of his Trump puppet.
WELCOME TO OLIGARCHY EVERYONE!!!
America’s propagandists in this Century originated on the right and Fox Entertainment is the publishing arm of the Republican Party’s propaganda machine. Which is a well known truth. This so called network has won top ratings for viewer numbers. Which does not give much credit for its viewers critical thinking skills and ability to discern objective truth.
That FOX has gained wealth from producing misinformation during election seasons and especially throughout the entire pandemic.
The potential liability and possible hazard of suits amounting to more millions than they paid out millions for voting disturbances.
Larry’s projectionist ways have again plagued his vision and corrupted his commentary.
Like the old police detective said, “Just the facts …” All else is propaganda snd conspiracy theory. The right’s prime conspiracy theorist and propaganda starter is in fact, Donald Trump.
He who would be Emperor/King has pulled the political wool over enough eyes and fooled voters into trusting him, banking on his promises being realized.
You also are pulling the wool over EVERYONE’s eyes.