this post was submitted on 02 Feb 2025
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Summary

Elon Musk vowed to cancel government grants after allegedly gaining access to the US Treasury’s payments system, triggering the abrupt resignation of a senior official.

Musk, who leads Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), claimed his team found Treasury officials approving payments without scrutiny.

Democrats, including Sen. Ron Wyden, raised alarms over Musk’s influence on federal funds. Treasury access concerns intensified after Trump ally Michael Flynn posted grant payments online.

Musk’s authority to halt payments remains unclear, and the Treasury has not responded to inquiries.

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[–] CharlesDarwin 223 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (4 children)

Who the fuck even is this guy? No vetting process, no confirmation hearings, nothing.

And he's just given this kind of power?

This country is so very, very fucked. Thanks to donvict's base and a huge assist from the apathetic and the "bothsides" idiots.

[–] But_my_mom_says_im_cool 45 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Reminder that he’s not even American. He’s a South African billionaire with no allegiance to any one country. He’s a carpet bagger

[–] [email protected] -1 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (2 children)

Would you say the same thing about a naturalized immigrant doing things you agree with?

He's a citizen whose status allow him to take pretty much any government related position except for being president, leave the immigration bit out of it as it's the same rhetoric being used by the far right to justify what they're doing to some naturalized citizens right now and it's a very dangerous slippery slope you're on.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Funny enough he's an illegal immigrant :)

[–] [email protected] 12 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

I think it's fair considering they're stating Elon has no allegiance to any country. He's a billionaire. He's the billionaire. He's beyond borders. This is a game for him.

I think it's also important to highlight his South African origins. South Africa is a famously racist country which his family was/is part of the elite of. His Nazism and white supremacist views didn't materialise from nowhere.

They're on a slippery slope, yes, but they've not slid down it. Their words were reasonable.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpetbagger

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

It's the first phrase that's problematic.

"He's not even American."

By this logic they should be saying the same thing about anyone who's a naturalized citizen and should be against them being involved in the government, only those born in the USA should be able to hold higher positions in the government based on that.

[–] MataVatnik 48 points 6 days ago (1 children)

He wasn't "given it". He stole it and nobody with the power to stop him is trying to stop him.

[–] breadsmasher 35 points 6 days ago (2 children)

he was given it by the elected president. which i think is so much worse

[–] qantravon 31 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Except the president doesn't have that authority. Congress could push back, but it's currently populated by sycophants.

[–] breadsmasher 12 points 6 days ago (1 children)

no one has stopped him so far

[–] P00ptart 7 points 6 days ago

2 people tried.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 6 days ago (2 children)

It's exactly how Hitler got power.

[–] Eagle0110 5 points 6 days ago

And a lot of people's reactions to Trump/Elon getting power were also remarkably similar to a lot of people's reactions to Hitler getting power back then, especially people who were already in positions of power

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 days ago (2 children)

Only on a very superficial level. Very different situation under a very different constitution.

'Both got appointed by the president' is comparing apples and oranges. That is in no way meant as a defense for Musk, but the argument is very weak and I'd prefer if we criticized him from a more solid basis.

[–] jj4211 4 points 6 days ago

While the nuance is appreciated, I think it's a trajectory worth considering.

When Trump is no longer able to even pretend to lead, in his circle there are not any obvious successors that seem likely to have the same capacity to steamroll the GOP into whatever the hell they like while also being a legal candidate for president. However if he uses his transient status to overly enable Musk to lead in ways he is legally forbidden to do so, then it elevates the risk of Musk as the heir apparent to the Trump problem.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 days ago

I’d prefer if we criticized him from a more solid basis.

The other side wouldn't care to pick nits. Personally, I'd say just allow it and perhaps try to come up with better, juicier stuff.

[–] [email protected] 30 points 6 days ago (2 children)

Most Americans are sleepwalking. As much as they're going to hurt other countries they're going to hurt Americans the most.

[–] Goodmorningsunshine 7 points 6 days ago

Well, so there's some justice

[–] FilthyHookerSpit 2 points 6 days ago

I think as long as Americans have something to lose, they will not revolt 😞🤙

[–] DarkFuture 5 points 6 days ago

I think a lot of people still, even now, believe that the statement "this country is fucked" is a bit overboard.

They don't grasp that the writing is on the wall. America literally is fucked. The point of no return has already been passed. What you're witnessing is the wholesale sellout of America to the wealthy, who will remain in power indefinitely, and a system way too far gone to do anything about it.

It's over.

Next stop, Russia 2.0. In the end, we really weren't any better than them.