We value your privacy

We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience, serve personalised ads or content, and analyse our traffic. By clicking "Accept All", you consent to our use of cookies.

Customise Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorised as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyse the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customised advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyse the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Elon Musk

Elon Musk: Biography, Scandals, and Role in Trump’s Government (2025)

Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and X Corp, has expanded his influence from Silicon Valley into the federal government as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under President Donald Trump. Since taking office in January 2025, Musk has become one of the most controversial and powerful unelected figures in the Trump administration.

Controversies and Criticisms

Seizure of Treasury Oversight Powers
In early 2025, Musk’s DOGE unit gained direct access to U.S. Treasury payment systems, halting nearly $1.8 billion in what DOGE called “wasteful” disbursements. Critics, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, condemned the move as an undemocratic “technocratic coup,” warning that it gives a billionaire unchecked control over federal financial infrastructure. No independent audit has confirmed the claimed savings.

Lack of Transparency and Conflicts of Interest
DOGE’s rapid integration across 15 federal agencies by February 2025 has raised red flags for government watchdogs. Musk staffed the department with a close circle of Silicon Valley loyalists, nicknamed “the Doge Kids,” many of whom lack public-sector experience. Ethics groups have filed lawsuits citing Musk’s ongoing SpaceX and Tesla contracts with the U.S. government, alleging conflicts of interest worth billions of dollars.

Rehiring of Employee with Racist Past
In February, Musk used his platform on X to poll users on rehiring Marko Elez, a DOGE programmer who previously resigned after racist social media posts. After 68% voted “yes,” Musk rehired him on March 1, prompting backlash from lawmakers and civil rights groups. Vice President JD Vance publicly supported the decision, while opponents warned it signaled a dangerous tolerance for hate within federal ranks.

X Corp and Free Speech Extremism
Musk’s acquisition of Twitter in 2022 and rebranding to X Corp has drawn global scrutiny. Since the acquisition, the platform has seen a surge in hate speech, misinformation, and extremist content. Critics blame Musk’s mass layoffs and content moderation rollbacks, which have slashed staff by 80%. By 2025, X’s valuation had plummeted from $44 billion to $19 billion, yet it remains a megaphone for Musk’s government messaging.

Controversial Public Gestures and Rhetoric
At a January 2025 Trump rally at Mar-a-Lago, Musk raised his fist in a gesture critics labeled a “fascist salute.” European lawmakers condemned the act, with some calling for a travel ban. Musk dismissed the concerns, calling it a “power gesture” and denying any political meaning, despite far-right groups praising the moment on X.

Elon Musk – Biography

Full Name: Elon Reeve Musk
Date of Birth: June 28, 1971 (age 53)
Place of Birth: Pretoria, South Africa
Citizenship: South African, Canadian, American
Political Affiliation: Aligned with the Republican Party (2024–present)
Current Role: Head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Senior Trump Advisor
Other Positions: CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and X Corp
Education: University of Pennsylvania (B.S. Physics, B.A. Economics, 1997)
Net Worth: $421 billion (Forbes, 2025)

Career Highlights

Musk co-founded several high-profile ventures, including:

  • Zip2 (acquired by Compaq for $307M in 1999)

  • X.com/PayPal (sold to eBay for $1.5B in 2002)

  • SpaceX (founded 2002, $19B in U.S. contracts as of 2025)

  • Tesla (joined 2004, drove it to $1T valuation)

  • Twitter/X Corp (acquired 2022, rebranded as X, now used as a pro-DOGE propaganda platform)

Role in Trump Administration

After becoming a top Trump donor in 2024, contributing more than $250 million to campaign and PACs, Musk was appointed to lead DOGE in January 2025. DOGE’s stated mission is to streamline federal spending, though many see it as a vehicle for radical deregulation, privatization, and Musk’s personal vision of techno-libertarian governance.

By March 2025, DOGE had eliminated over 12,000 federal jobs and terminated 1,200 government contracts, with agency heads facing pressure to make steep cuts or face dismissal. At CPAC, Trump praised Musk’s “efficiency revolution,” while critics warn that DOGE represents a shadow government lacking checks and balances.

Personal Life

Musk has 11 children with three women: author Justine Wilson, actress Talulah Riley, and musician Grimes. His personal life has made headlines for custody battles, fluctuating relationships, and controversies over children’s names and parenting philosophies. A Texas resident and naturalized U.S. citizen, Musk describes himself as a “free speech absolutist” and Christian-leaning technophile.