Elon Musk takes center stage as Trump's influencer and enforcer on Capitol Hill and beyond

In the weeks leading up to Donald Trump's second term, it appears that Vice President-elect JD Vance is nowhere in sight. Instead, Elon Musk – the world's richest person and largest single donor to the Trump re-election campaign – is by Trump’s side at every turn.

The pair have been keeping busy since the election. They’ve flown together on Trump’s private Boeing 757, nicknamed Trump Force One. The president-elect attended Musk’s SpaceX launch in Texas. And the X owner joined Trump for Thanksgiving at Mar-a-Lago, even appearing in a family photo.

But Musk’s role isn’t limited to “first buddy.” As a member of his inner circle, major donor, and co-leader of the new Department of Government Efficiency, Musk’s role as enforcer and influencer for Trump is starting to take shape.

Musk takes on Capitol Hill

Musk made the rounds on Capitol Hill last week on behalf of his new boss, aggressively pitching ways the federal government can reduce its spending through the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, a nod to the Dogecoin cryptocurrency that Musk promotes.

Musk and fellow businessman Vivek Ramaswamy held a private meeting with Republican lawmakers to discuss ways they can slash government spending through DOGE. The task force will also be responsible for finding ways to fire federal workers, cut social programs, and slash federal regulations.

Their visit to Capitol Hill also came with a warning to lawmakers – join Trump in making cuts or pay the price.

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who is leading the House working group for DOGE, told reporters after the meeting that Musk and Ramaswamy said they will have a “naughty and nice list” of lawmakers who support or vote against the spending cuts.

Power of the purse

Musk’s rise to prominence within the Trump campaign and the incoming administration was likely boosted by the amount of money he spent during the election.

According to documents filed with the Federal Election Commission, Musk spent at least $277 million in political contributions to support Trump and other Republicans, making him the single largest donor of the 2024 election.

Nearly $239 million of that total went directly to Musk’s personal super PAC, America PAC, which he quietly established in the spring. He used the PAC to spend $154.5 million on digital ads and get-out-the-vote efforts to support Trump and oppose Vice President Kamala Harris. The billionaire also donated another $20 million to a group that claimed Trump wouldn’t sign a national abortion ban, comparing him to late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Musk said he plans to continue to fund and operate his super PAC, potentially using it to challenge Republican lawmakers during the midterms who don’t follow Trump’s agenda.

Will Musk’s influence last? It’s hard to say. Trump previously joked that he “can’t get Musk out of Mar-a-Lago.” And NBC News reported that Musk’s constant presence is starting to strain longtime Trump advisors.

But for now, as Musk joins in on phone calls with world leaders and travels abroad with the president-elect, it appears the billionaire will maintain his outsized role.

Melissa Cruz is an elections reporting fellow who focuses on voter access issues for the USA TODAY Network. You can reach her at [email protected] or on X, formerly Twitter, at @MelissaWrites22.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Elon Musk, armed with cash and influence, takes lead role beside Trump