WASHINGTON: Former President Donald Trump ridiculed media portrayals suggesting that tech billionaire Elon Musk holds significant sway over his administration, dismissing such narratives as failed attempts to create division between them.
In an excerpt from a Fox News interview set to air Tuesday, Trump mocked the media’s exaggerated claims, impersonating a news anchor: “Breaking news: Donald Trump has ceded control of the presidency to Elon Musk. President Musk will be attending a cabinet meeting tonight…”
Recent media coverage, including a Time magazine cover showing Musk seated at the president’s Resolute Desk and a New Yorker illustration of Trump and Musk jointly taking the presidential oath, has fueled speculation about Musk’s role in the administration.
Trump revealed that he and Musk had discussed these portrayals. “Elon called me,” Trump said. “He told me, ‘They’re trying to drive us apart.’ And I agreed.”
Criticizing the media’s tactics, Trump asserted that the American people saw through the alleged manipulation. “I used to think they were good at this,” he said. “But they’re actually bad at it—otherwise, I wouldn’t be president.”
Despite ongoing scrutiny, Musk remains a major figure in political discussions, with media attention intensifying after his casual appearance at the Oval Office alongside his young son. Meanwhile, Trump continues to enjoy some of his highest approval ratings, while public opinion on Musk remains divided.
