Elon Musk fires back at "#PresidentMusk" and claims media is trying to "drive a wedge" between him and Trump

In a recent social media post, Elon Musk (r.) addressed rumors that he has taken over Donald Trump's leadership by heavily influencing the president-elect.  © Collage: CHIP SOMODEVILLA & Samuel Corum / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

As Donald Trump prepares to move back into the White House for his second term, critics have been calling attention to his close relationship with Musk, who has been spotted at the president-elect's side nearly every day since he won the election last month.

It's been speculated that Musk – who has been tapped to be an advisor and head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency – has already had a heavy influence on Trump, leading to "#PresidentMusk" becoming a trending topic in recent days.

On Friday, Musk addressed the rumors in an X post, resharing a post from another user that argued the media is "jabbing Trump about not being the alpha... to provoke him to sideline Elon," which Musk said is "exactly the goal."

"The political and legacy media puppets all got their new instructions yesterday and are now parroting the same message to drive a wedge between [Trump] and me," he wrote, adding, "They will fail."

Billionaire Elon Musk (r.) jumping with joy as Donald Trump introduces him during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on October 5, 2024.  © JIM WATSON / AFP

Critics and politicians – such as Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders – began using the term "President Musk" after Trump called on Republican lawmakers to block a bipartisan funding bill that was needed to avoid a government shutdown.

Trump's remarks came after Musk had spent that day posting heavy criticisms of the bill – much of which was misinformed – and called on any Republican lawmakers that support it to be "voted out" next election cycle.

Concerns have also been raised about the conflict of interest and troubling standard created by having the world's richest man seemingly able to buy his way into politics with a hefty donation to Trump's campaign and then enact swift change.

The concerns have fallen on deaf ears with the far-right, as MAGA Republicans are enthusiastic about having the billionaire in their corner, as he has promised to drastically change how the federal government operates.