Within the MAGA movement led by President Donald Trump, populists and politicians are increasingly targeting the wealthy elite, particularly billionaire adviser Elon Musk.
During a heated Cabinet meeting on Thursday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sharply criticized Musk for dismissing employees without considering the potential impact on their agencies’ effectiveness.
The day prior, concerned Republican senators highlighted the human and political ramifications of Musk’s ambiguous budget reductions and appeared to secure a tentative agreement from the billionaire to allow Congress to vote on those cuts instead of the White House imposing them unilaterally.
Musk informed the senators—most of whom were former colleagues of Rubio—that his Department of Government Efficiency was not accountable for the reductions, according to two sources privy to a private discussion. This stance contradicted his public image—last month, he brandished a toy chainsaw at a conservative conference—while subtly deflecting responsibility onto the Cabinet secretaries who were set to meet with him and Trump the next day.
After witnessing the exchange between Cabinet members and his key political supporter, Trump reined in Musk. The president stated that Senate-confirmed secretaries would presently determine who gets dismissed in their departments, with Musk serving as an adjunct when needed.
On Friday, Trump downplayed the prior day’s events, which were first reported by The New York Times.
“Elon and Marco get along great, and they’re both doing an excellent job,” Trump remarked to reporters. “There’s no conflict.”
“As President Trump stated, this was a productive meeting among his team to discuss cost-saving measures and staffing throughout the federal government,” said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt in a statement to NBC News. “Everyone is collaborating as one team to help President Trump fulfill his promise to the American people to enhance government efficiency.”
Nonetheless, this confrontation underscored a broader conflict that has brought traditional Trump-world populists and seasoned politicians into opposition against Musk and a cadre of wealthy advisers. It also signaled the first indication that Trump may have reservations about allowing the world’s richest man to indiscriminately cut large numbers of low- and middle-income federal jobs and programs that support MAGA voters.
“Feeling pretty f—–g good right now in the populists vs. plutocrats battle,” declared Steve Bannon, host of the “War Room” podcast and a former White House official with significant appeal among Trump’s base.
“I’m all for dismantling the establishment, but there are appropriate ways to do it,” Bannon added. “Elon’s approach is clearly being turned down.”
For a president who campaigned three times as a populist, Trump has surprised some supporters by surrounding himself with billionaires and pushing an elite-favored agenda.
His inauguration featured prominent seating for Musk, Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, and he promptly took steps toward enacting artificial intelligence policies endorsed by wealthy influences. On Thursday, he signed an executive order endorsing cryptocurrency.
Julia Demaree Nikhinson / Pool via Getty Images
In addition to Musk, Trump’s close circle of advisers includes other billionaires like Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
The tension between Trump’s immigration policy has also created a rift between his affluent advisers and the populist base. While many MAGA supporters advocate for the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants and the end of birthright citizenship, Trump has aimed to welcome certain immigrants. He has proposed allowing foreigners to purchase citizenship for $5 million and expedited citizenship for white South Africans.
However, a report from Semafor last Friday indicated that leaders in the tech sector have become less enthusiastic supporters of the H-1B visa program—bringing in high-skilled workers—due to a growing populist backlash from Trump’s base.
In some instances, MAGA populists have opposed Republicans in Congress. This past week, Laura Loomer, a prominent Trump follower, criticized the GOP on X for the Senate’s vote to repeal a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule that the Trump administration aims to abolish.
In an unusual alignment, Trump supporters joined liberal factions in advocating to protect the rule against “debanking”—the practice of financial institutions denying service to individuals or entities based on political beliefs. Meanwhile, cryptocurrency advocates and tech leaders, who have criticized debanking, remained silent.
Loomer emphasized that her grievance is not with Trump, but rather with Senate Republicans.
“It’s appalling that Republicans continue fundraising off false claims of protecting free speech and combating debanking while making it easier for payment processors to discriminate against American citizens, especially Trump supporters,” Loomer expressed.
“The Senate GOP violated promises made by President Trump to prevent discriminatory debanking and deplatforming by major tech firms,” she asserted.
The apparent quiet from Silicon Valley magnates, including Musk and Trump tech adviser David Sacks, may reflect their disdain for the CFPB and their preference for a debanking bill sponsored by Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., which has strong support from cryptocurrency advocates.
The significant influence of these individuals in Trump’s life became evident on Thursday when the president enacted an executive order establishing a strategic bitcoin reserve. Sacks was present with Trump for that moment, and prior to the signing, Trump sought Sacks’ approval.
“This is something you believe in?” Trump inquired.
Sacks responded, “100%.”
At times, Trump has seemed indifferent about his policies’ effects on average consumers. He paused new tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico this week, yet suggested in an address to Congress that he’s unconcerned about consumers facing increased costs.
“There will be some disturbance, but we’re okay with that,” Trump stated. “It won’t be significant.”
Brandon Bell / Getty Images file
However, no paradox is more striking for Trump supporters than the president asserting he is championing the people by granting Musk the authority to eliminate grants, contracts, and entire agencies. This decision has caused economic distress for many Trump voters, including those who depend on these services or hold governmental positions.
While addressing Congress, Trump declared, “The era of governing by unelected bureaucrats is over.”
Dave Portnoy, co-founder of Barstool Sports and a notable Trump supporter, expressed skepticism on X regarding this claim.
“I must admit, this one didn’t quite resonate since Elon is effectively the Co-President,” commented Portnoy, who has become increasingly critical of Trump.
Trump adviser Alina Habba recently mentioned that laid-off veterans from federal jobs may not have been “suitable” for work, even claiming she had no compassion for the thousands now unemployed.
“I really don’t feel sorry for them,” Habba stated.
She further noted that while the Trump administration would assist veterans “the right way,” “perhaps they’re not fit to hold a job at this time, or not willing to show up for work.”
According to a Republican strategist outside of Washington, Trump’s reputation will largely depend on how voters perceive the effects of his decisions on their finances, a judgment that will be particularly important for House and Senate incumbents in the upcoming midterms next November.
A recent CBS poll revealed that 80% of respondents considered tackling inflation should be a top priority—yet only 29% felt Trump was prioritizing the issue “a lot.”
“Trump seems to enjoy the attention from Elon and the other wealthy individuals showering him with affection—it’s all fun and games with DOGE for now—but if the economy doesn’t improve and inflation doesn’t decrease, his voting base will suffer the consequences, resulting in a disastrous fate for Republicans in 2026,” the strategist cautioned. “He must deliver results on the economy—quickly.”
