Rep. Tony Gonzalez (R-Texas) said he feels like tech billionaire Elon Musk became the prime minister of the United States.
Gonzalez appeared on CBS' “Face the Nation” on Sunday, where host Margaret Brennan spoke with President-elect Trump, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Ohio). He asked about the “chaotic” power relationship between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. And musk.
“It's kind of funny. We have a president, we have a vice president, we have a speaker,” he said. “It feels like Elon Musk became prime minister.”
Musk was named co-director of President Trump's Office of Government Efficiency, which has drawn him into government spending negotiations in Congress.
He called on supporters of the original bipartisan funding bill to be voted out in the midterm elections. The original bill was criticized by Musk and other conservatives concerned about spending.
Mr Musk, who owns the social platform X, posted dozens of times online urging members to reject the package put forward by Mr Johnson. Speakers were sent back to the drawing board and reached a narrow agreement early Saturday morning as Congress raced toward the deadline for a government shutdown.
Tesla CEO Musk is the richest person in the world. He poured nearly $250 million into Mr. Trump's presidential campaign and said he would support Republican candidates through the midterm elections.
Gonzalez said Sunday that he spoke to Musk “several times” last week.
“He has a voice, and I think a large part of that voice reflects the voice of the people,” Gonzalez said of Musk.
The Texas Republican also criticized the original spending package, pointing out “what's wrong” with Congress.
“We have to get back to normal order,” he said.
