President Donald Trump responded on Friday to Time magazine’s latest cover featuring Elon Musk, which stirred widespread discussion and controversy in Washington. The cover image shows Musk seated at the iconic Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, sparking questions about the billionaire’s growing influence in Trump’s administration and his role as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The cover story, authored by Simon Schuster and Brian Bennett, dives into Musk’s campaign to overhaul federal government agencies, focusing on what the article calls a crusade to eliminate inefficiency and fraud. Time’s report paints Musk as a powerful figure who operates with considerable autonomy. The article claims that “millions of government workers find themselves at Musk’s mercy” as he enforces sweeping cost-cutting measures that have caused significant upheaval across federal departments.
“Musk appears accountable to no one but President Trump, who handed his campaign benefactor a sweeping mandate to bring the government in line with his agenda,” Schuster and Bennett wrote. According to the piece, when Time reached out for comments on Musk’s government activities, DOGE referred all inquiries to the White House, which declined to respond.
When a reporter asked about the cover during a press briefing, Trump appeared unfazed. With a smirk, he quipped, “Is Time magazine still in business? I didn’t even know that.” Despite the humor, Trump quickly shifted to a serious tone, defending Musk and praising his efforts to root out inefficiencies.
“Elon is doing a great job. He’s finding tremendous fraud, corruption, and waste. You see it with USAID, but you’re going to see it even more so with other agencies and other parts of government,” Trump said. The president added, “He’s been wanting to do this for a long time.”
Trump’s remarks underscored his strong support for Musk’s initiatives, which include slashing agency budgets and revising federal operations. The partnership between the two leaders has faced intense scrutiny from critics who argue that Musk’s vast authority and influence in the federal government are unprecedented and lack proper oversight.
Musk’s appointment as a “special government employee” within DOGE was formalized earlier this week, giving him broad authority to reshape the bureaucracy. Under his leadership, agencies such as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of Transportation have already seen substantial funding cuts and restructuring efforts. Critics have warned that the changes could jeopardize critical services and programs, but Musk and Trump maintain that these measures are necessary to eliminate wasteful spending.
The Time cover was interpreted by many as a symbolic representation of Musk’s growing role in the administration. Some viewed it as a nod to his status as one of the most powerful figures in government today, despite not being an elected official. Others saw it as a provocative statement on the shifting balance of power under Trump’s leadership.
For Musk, the cover adds to his string of recent high-profile moments. The billionaire entrepreneur, who is also the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, was already a central figure in global business and technology. His latest position in the federal government cements his influence in shaping U.S. policy. Some of Musk’s supporters argue that his approach to government reform—streamlining processes and cutting bureaucracy—is exactly what Washington needs.
“Musk has a track record of innovation and success. He’s applying those principles to government, and that’s what we need,” said Kelly Moore, a political analyst. “However, the lack of checks and balances in his current role is raising eyebrows.”
Meanwhile, critics accuse Musk of using his position to push personal interests. Concerns have been raised about potential conflicts of interest, particularly given Musk’s ownership of major tech companies that could benefit from federal contracts and policy changes.
Public reaction to the Time cover has been polarizing. On social media, supporters of Trump and Musk praised the portrayal as a sign of strong leadership, while opponents questioned the ethics of Musk’s role in government. The image of Musk at the Resolute Desk has become a meme, with some users humorously speculating about Musk’s next moves, including jokes about him launching a space program from the White House lawn.
Musk has yet to publicly comment on the Time feature, but he did retweet an image of the cover with a rocket emoji, further fueling speculation about his reaction. Some reports suggest Musk was surprised by the level of attention the cover received.
This isn’t the first time Time has featured Trump prominently. The president has graced the cover more than 40 times, including being named “Person of the Year” in 2016. However, the new cover’s focus on Musk signals a shift in narrative, highlighting the complex relationship between the two powerful figures and the evolving dynamics within the administration.
As the debate over Musk’s role continues, analysts predict that his influence will shape key policies in areas such as infrastructure, technology, and defense. The Department of Government Efficiency is reportedly preparing to unveil new initiatives aimed at reducing regulatory hurdles and accelerating federal projects.
For now, the Time cover serves as a flashpoint in the ongoing discussion about the balance of power in Washington. Whether Musk’s reforms will lead to lasting improvements or spark further controversy remains to be seen. What’s clear is that both Trump and Musk are committed to pushing forward with their vision for a more streamlined government, regardless of the criticism.
