The latest cover of Time magazine features Elon Musk sitting behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office. The cover story is titled “Inside Elon Musk’s War on Washington” and discusses Musk’s efforts to implement government reforms and cut spending through his new role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The implications of Musk sitting in Trump’s place at the hallowed desk did not go down well with the President for whom being first and best is a top priority, but he made the best of the situation by dismissing it lightly.
In a press conference at the White House on Friday with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, President Trump was asked if he cared to opine on the image and he initially answered “no,” before asking ironically, “is Time Magazine still in business? I didn’t know that.” Trump then went on to praise Musk, a major player in these early days of Trump’s second term through DOGE and the single largest contributor to his 2024 election campaign, telling reporters that he is “doing a great job.”
While Trump joked about Time’s supposed irrelevance, his past comments have shown at various times that he holds the magazine in high esteem. Only last month, he was named Person of the Year for the second time by the publication, appearing very pleased with the editorial decision, calling it a “tremendous honor” and quipping that he “like[s] it better this time actually” over the first time he received it in 2016. Trump has also falsely claimed that he holds the record for the most appearances on the cover (that record goes to Richard Nixon).
Musk’s actions as head of DOGE have raised major concerns, as his surrogates have gained unfettered access to sensitive data at a number of federal agencies, from the Treasury to the Office of Personnel Management, with civil servants being locked out from them while DOGE operates with no apparent oversight. Musk and Trump have also called for the shuttering of entire federal agencies, like USAID, which is a direct violation the Impoundment Control Act of 1974.
A flurry of lawsuits has emerged to stop Musk and Trump’s actions with DOGE, from government employee unions to 22 different state governments. Kel McClanahan, an attorney suing over DOGE’s hoovering of data at the Office of Personnel Management, called DOGE’s actions “a cybersecurity nightmare waiting to happen, and it’s going to blow up.” Trump has remained steadfast in his defense of Musk, telling reporters yesterday that “he’s finding tremendous fraud, and corruption, and waste.”
The question of how much control Trump has or is willing to exercise over Musk remains open. Musk speaks from his X account independently of Trump, who has yet to announce any of the Silicon Valley financier’s actions before he takes them. Critics argue that Musk’s role as head of DOGE gives him an unusually high level of control and power, which has led to concerns about a potential constitutional crisis. At the same time, Musk’s aggressive approach to government reform, reminiscent of a hostile corporate takeover, has sparked protests and lawsuits.
While Trump has praised Musk’s efforts, he has also indicated that Musk’s actions require approval and are not unchecked. This dynamic has created tension and raised questions about the extent of Musk’s influence as the “new Trump whisperer“. Time Magazine’s cover feeds the undercurrent of conflict that may exist between two of the most powerful men on the planet–but only one of whom can sit behind the Resolute desk in the Oval Office– and makes it an open topic of conversation through a bitingly satirical image.
