‘Billionaires must not be allowed to run our government,’ Sanders says after Musk derides bipartisan deal to prevent government shutdown

Summary

Senator Bernie Sanders criticized “President Elon Musk” for opposing a bipartisan government funding deal that would prevent a shutdown and extend operations until March 2024.

Musk, a vocal Trump ally and proposed co-leader of a new “department of government efficiency,” called the bill “criminal” and misleadingly claimed it includes a 40% Congressional pay raise and funding for “bioweapon labs.”

Musk’s opposition, amplified through over 100 posts on X, has drawn Republican support and Democratic backlash.

Sanders condemned Musk’s influence, labeling it “oligarchy at work.”

  • leadore@lemmy.world
    116·
    3 days ago

    The best way to get Musk out of there is to keep referring to him as the real president, saying that he’s calling the shots, and that he’s manipulating Trump. Trump’s ego will not be able to handle that and will get rid of him.

    • rustydrd@sh.itjust.works
      11·
      3 days ago

      I sometimes listen to the “The rest is politics US” podcast, where one of the hosts is Anthony Scaramucci, and he frequently makes the same point: if Trump starts referring to you as “Mr. President” or “more famous than him”, you’re finished. Not sure if this applies to someone like Musk, but Trump’s ego is a fickle thing.

      • leadore@lemmy.world
        16·
        3 days ago

        I agree that Elon’s money is probably the only reason he’s lasted this long, but I think there will be a limit. Even if he’s willing to keep paying forever, I think Rump’s ego will be the deciding factor in spite of the money.

    • edric@lemm.ee
      60·
      3 days ago

      Yup, someone who has Trump’s ear just needs to tell him that Musk is stealing his thunder and that will make him turn around.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
        214·
        3 days ago

        I think you guys overestimate how much Trump gives a shit at this point. I think he’s mostly checked out. He ran for president to keep out of prison and now he’ll be a rubber stamp.

        It’s not like he’s stayed in the public eye with lots of rallies and press conferences and such after he won.

          • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
            10·
            3 days ago

            Like I said, he doesn’t seem all that eager to be in the public eye now. He’s not giving constant interviews or anything. I think he doesn’t have the stamina anymore.

            • Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works
              10·
              3 days ago

              He has no reason to be right now. He’s tired, but when what he views as his reputation (every narcissist has a weird internal way they calculate it) gets challenged, he will be out and about as lively as ever… he’s just too old to take adderall every day now.

              Defeatist attitude is a self fulfilling prophecy, as long as they don’t totally silence the media, then he will be able to be manipulated by his own narcissistic ego… he does watch news more than he works, afterall.

      • lemmeout@lemm.ee
        9·
        3 days ago

        We are in a shit pickle. Musky could sue any news outlets he wants if there is even a grain of certainly in outlets words. And you know how that will go for them. So they gotta keep the terms fuzzy.

        It sucks.

    • luce [they/she]@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      4·
      3 days ago

      People in politics are so “civil” they normalize hatred, lies, and fascist ideas. Normalizing hatred and fascism only further fascist ideology, which slowly, piece by piece, takes over the right.

  • jagged_circle@feddit.nlEnglish
    6·
    3 days ago

    I wonder if we can get Trump to start pushing billionaires out of windows just by toying with his ego.

    I like this tactic.

  • Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works
    12·
    3 days ago

    Oohh. I like this. I think this is more of an onion in the ointment for Trump than calling him weird. president Musk and VP Trump needs to be part of the vernacular.