{"id":9939,"date":"2025-02-27T11:29:32","date_gmt":"2025-02-27T03:29:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tingchao.xyz\/?p=9939"},"modified":"2025-02-27T11:32:16","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T03:32:16","slug":"the-trump-musk-show-takes-center-stage-from-the-politics-desk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tingchao.xyz\/?p=9939","title":{"rendered":"The Trump-Musk show takes center stage: From the Politics Desk"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
The Trump-Musk show takes center stage: From the Politics Desk<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Trump and Musk dominate the first Cabinet meeting of the new administration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

By Katherine Doyle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When President Donald Trump convened his Cabinet secretaries for the first meeting of his new term today, a tableful of big personalities largely sat and watched as the main character of the early days of the administration took center stage once more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group, which included nominees who haven\u2019t yet been confirmed, was also joined by Elon Musk, whose early actions to reshape the federal bureaucracy have stoked rancor and unease among government employees, as well as murmurs of concern among some Republicans in Congress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe\u2019s sacrificing a lot,\u201d Trump said as he introduced Musk. \u201cHe\u2019s getting a lot of praise, I\u2019ll tell you, but he\u2019s also getting hit.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump\u2019s first Cabinet meeting outlined the hierarchy in his administration, with many of his Senate-confirmed department heads spending an hour as audience members after the president gave the floor to Musk at the top of the meeting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump\u2019s secretaries watched as Musk, standing at the edge of a long table, explained DOGE and its work as \u201ca support function for the president and for the agencies and departments to help achieve those savings to effectively find 15% reduction in fraud and waste.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd we bring the receipts,\u201d Musk added. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump also made his expectations for his Cabinet clear. \u201cOh yeah, they\u2019ll follow the orders,\u201d Trump said<\/a> in response to a question from a reporter about his control of the executive branch. \u201cOf course, no exceptions.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Republicans who control the House and the Senate are making it clear they won\u2019t accept constraints on Trump\u2019s authority. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But they will need Democratic support on a bill to avert a government shutdown to overcome the 60-vote threshold in the Senate, as well as to make up for expected defections from conservatives in the House. Democrats are using that leverage to demand guardrails in the bill to limit the executive branch\u2019s discretion and require the administration to carry out spending directed by Congress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Party leaders suggest that if lawmakers feel the need to hold such events, they should do tele-town halls or at least vet attendees to avoid scenes that become viral clips. A GOP aide said House Republican leaders are urging lawmakers to stop engaging in them altogether.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What else to know from the Trump presidency today<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n