A few hours before President Trump convened his cabinet for the first time, he took to his social media platform to express that the group was “EXTREMELY HAPPY WITH ELON.” As the meeting commenced, it seemed to be the responsibility of the members to substantiate this statement. The secretaries sat mostly in silence behind their paper name cards, a necessity when, despite their power, they are not universally recognized names. They listened attentively as the world's richest man, Elon Musk, addressed them, criticizing the size of the deficit and admitting to a temporary halt in efforts to prevent Ebola, while emphasizing their importance to his mission.
Elon Musk, who was invited to the meeting, took the opportunity to thank everyone for their support, saying, “I’d like to thank everyone for your support.” However, it is noteworthy that Musk has not always had the backing of every cabinet secretary. This was especially true when he attempted to mandate their employees to account for their time via email or resign. Such actions have created a noticeable tension within the cabinet.
During the meeting, a reporter seized the opportunity to question the apparent tension among the cabinet members. In response, President Trump deflected the inquiry to the secretaries themselves. He asked, “Is anybody unhappy with Elon?” and added, “If you are, we’ll throw him out of here. Is anybody unhappy?” This statement highlighted Trump's support for Musk and his willingness to address any discontent directly, reinforcing the administration's backing of the renowned entrepreneur.
