Elon Musk Influences House GOP Funding Debate

Hillary Clinton criticized Elon Musk's influence over House Republicans amid a looming government shutdown, suggesting that his sway is causing significant political turmoil. Musk's opposition to a bipartisan spending bill led to its failure, with House Speaker Mike Johnson admitting he had to appease Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to secure support. Musk labeled the proposed bill 'criminal' and threatened to back primary challenges against any Republicans who supported it, ultimately contributing to the collapse of a carefully negotiated compromise. This has led to frustration among GOP members, some of whom accused Musk and Ramaswamy of prioritizing publicity over effective governance. Despite his foreign-born status making him ineligible for presidency, Musk's influence has been likened to that of a de facto leader within the GOP, overshadowing Trump. The situation remains fluid, with Republican leaders scrambling for alternatives as they face internal divisions and external pressures from both Musk and Trump.