this post was submitted on 15 Jan 2025
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Summary

Elon Musk, a Republican megadonor and close Trump ally, is reportedly set to have office space in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building near the West Wing.

Musk is expected to head the "Department of Government Efficiency," aiming to reduce federal spending under Trump.

Critics question Musk's influence, noting his frequent presence at key Trump meetings and events.

This move, if confirmed, would grant Musk continued access to Trump post-inauguration, sparking debate about the billionaire’s role in the administration despite holding no official government position.

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[–] foggy 184 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (3 children)

Oligarchy.

We're no better than Russia.

By design.

We lost the cold war folks.

[–] minnow 27 points 1 week ago (2 children)

The cold war was against the Soviets. We're losing to fascists.

Which is much worse (imo)

[–] Zero22xx 14 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

And willingly. I might be unfairly judging because I'm a non-American that has been watching this unfold from the outside. But this has been no master plan. There's been no deception or trickery. These people have repeatedly and loudly told us all what they're about. But Donald Trump could say "Hannibal Lector is a fine man" after half an hour of shuffling around onstage to golden oldies and his supporters were like "my hero! 😍"

Long before they were trying to 'protect the kids' from trans people, they were trying to 'protect the kids' from metal and punk and rap and calling everything satanic. But all along, we all knew that they were raging hypocrites that campaign for things like child marriage while claiming to actually give a shit about children.

The way I see it, not a single person over say 25 has the excuse of not knowing or not remembering. They don't get to use the "we were tricked" line later on. In fact, no one with the ability to read does. Southern Republican states have a global reputation for being full of kiddie fiddling preachers and politicians, for being run like 3rd world countries and for being incestuous motherfuckers. This is known. And this is why I'm going to press X to doubt wherever anyone tries to tell me that they thought the price of eggs would improve.

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[–] [email protected] 95 points 1 week ago (3 children)

In related news JD Vance reported that he has opted for a room at the local Motel 6 for his accomodations...

[–] [email protected] 40 points 1 week ago (1 children)

since when does the dollar store motel chain have couches in their rooms?

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 week ago

Couches, chairs...he's got eclectic tastes. Some people are saying.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 week ago

Please don’t sleep on JD Vance. While Trump is selling out the constitution, he is the tip of the want-to-be authoritarian spear: Is There Something More Radical than MAGA? JD Vance Is Dreaming It.

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[–] [email protected] 82 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 26 points 1 week ago (1 children)

That door has been open a while, he's just the biggest one and in the latest tradition the quiet part is being said out loud now. More validation of the real message of "Soylent Green", where a society degrades to the point where even the most outrageous actions get at best a shrug from the apathetic public.

[–] pennomi 13 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Surely they are playing with fire now, right? The French Revolution happened in part because the oligarchy became so brazen about things.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 week ago

We will find out when these idiots start the second great depression. When 400 million people can't eat shit gets real.

[–] [email protected] 77 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Waitaminute... Isn't he going into the tesla office every day? I thought employees couldn't be productive without being in the office!

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[–] FlyingSquid 51 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I would hope so. He's the president.

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[–] 58008 48 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Not that I would ever condone or encourage such abhorrent and inexcusable behaviour, but it would seem like if anyone in US politics is begging for a bullet, it's Musk. Even more so than Trump or his cabinet of monstrosities. Musk is uniquely poised to catch a round in the dome. And it will probably be a MAGA lunatic that does it.

[–] Deway 17 points 1 week ago

Musk is a bigger problem for the world as a whole than Trump is. So yeah, I still don't get why it hasn't happened yet.

[–] [email protected] 47 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Oh man he's gonna give so many more blowjobs than Melania

[–] irreticent 10 points 1 week ago
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[–] [email protected] 36 points 1 week ago

Of course the real President should have offices in the White House!

[–] Sumocat 33 points 1 week ago (1 children)
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[–] psycho_driver 33 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Is it just me or is Elon's appearance taking on more and more the embodiment of a fart in human form?

[–] TheBraveSirRobbin 9 points 1 week ago

I didn't know how to word it, but this feels about right

[–] Fades 22 points 1 week ago

Jesus fucking Christ

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 week ago (1 children)

What shape is that office?

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 week ago
[–] FiremanEdsRevenge 21 points 1 week ago

Bro, what the actual fuck?

[–] dual_sport_dork 20 points 1 week ago (5 children)

This twerp must have some absolutely devastating dirt on Trumpy boy. I'm coming to the conclusion that there's no other explanation. It can't possibly just be money; Trump has tons of other rich donors. What I'm struggling to predict, though, is just what he could possibly have to hold over Trump's head that's worse than selling classified documents, misusing campaign funds, trying to incite an insurrection, or failing to pay his hookers.

[–] [email protected] 43 points 1 week ago

It's not like this. This is conspiratorial thinking.

These people are just .. weirdos. This is how weirdos are friends: transactionally, with little common ground. Trump feels like he has something to offer a friend that friend, even though he's richer, can't.

It's all fucking base and stupid and nowhere near the ideals we are supposed to aspire to as a nation.

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[–] Iheartcheese 20 points 1 week ago (1 children)

6 months tops before they start clashing very publicly

[–] TommySoda 15 points 1 week ago (1 children)

That's very generous. I give it 2 months.

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[–] Gammelfisch 19 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Next door to the Russian and Chinese oligarch offices.

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[–] TommySoda 16 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Dystopian implications aside, I wanna see how long it takes for everyone to be absolutely sick of him. He's already insufferable when he's not even in the room.

[–] takeheart 8 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

It's not like you couldn't say the same thing about Donald Trump. Yet here we are.

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[–] uebquauntbez 11 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Every president in the White House needs a dog eh?

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 week ago

Yup, that’s why Trump is there.

[–] Duamerthrax 10 points 1 week ago (4 children)

I would say they should block the gaming ports on the network, but Musk doesn't really play games anyway.

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[–] NineMileTower 9 points 1 week ago

This is a good thing. Familiarity breeds contempt. A middle school spat between these two prissy boys is imminent.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I cannot wait until the Orange Idiot gets sick of him and Musk suddenly becomes a Democrat.

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[–] MooseTheDog 9 points 1 week ago

Now we can get Tesla Whitehouse recall announcements.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 week ago

Does it mean Mar-a-Lago is the new WH or the other way?

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 week ago (4 children)

My question is why does Trump feel beholden to him now? It's not like he needs to win another election. Something else is going on here.

[–] Kbobabob 7 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Elon bought the piss tapes.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 week ago

Unelected by the way

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 week ago (2 children)

The article and the NYT one which it cites fail to mention if there's any historical precedent for this kind of arrangement. Is there?

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 week ago (1 children)

No idea for the US but a few years ago South Korea dealt with a similar situation. It was revealed that the president had a friend who was acting as an unpaid, unelected advisor making decisions for the president, seeing classified information, and helping set national policy. They had million person protests in the middle of Seoul that culminated in the impeachment of their president and her removal from office. The advisor was also arrested and sentenced to 20 years or something.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_South_Korean_political_scandal

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