Trump Using Musk As A Distraction?
Former White House staffer Alyssa Farah Griffin shared her perspective on President Trump’s strategy in managing federal spending cuts, particularly his decision to place Elon Musk in charge of overseeing these controversial measures. Griffin suggested that by assigning Musk this significant responsibility, Trump is effectively distancing himself from potential backlash once these cuts, which are expected to be unpopular, take effect.
During a recent interview on “CNN News Central,” Griffin explained, “What Trump is doing by putting Elon in charge of overseeing the federal government and making these massive cuts is creating a buffer for himself. If these cuts become unpopular in the future, Trump won’t be held accountable. Instead, Musk will bear the brunt of the criticism.” She continued, saying, “Trump doesn’t want to own the fallout if the public reacts negatively to losing resources, which they might attribute to Musk’s decisions.”
In recent months, Democrats have intensified their criticism of Musk’s role in shaping these spending reductions. His Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has focused on trimming resources at agencies like the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Additionally, concerns have surfaced regarding DOGE’s access to sensitive government systems, further fueling concerns about Musk’s growing influence within the federal government.
While Trump maintains strong approval ratings among his base, Griffin pointed out that there is significant public skepticism about Musk’s influence in government affairs. “Trump’s popularity is at an all-time high, but only a small fraction of the public—around 23 percent—support Musk having such sweeping control over government operations. His unpopularity is clear,” Griffin noted.
In light of this, Griffin suggested that Trump’s move to put Musk in the spotlight may be a strategic attempt to shift attention and accountability. “By putting Musk front and center to answer tough questions, Trump has created a situation where Musk is forced to defend the controversial cuts and decisions associated with the DOGE initiative,” she said.
Ultimately, Griffin sees this as a calculated move by Trump to protect himself from the fallout of unpopular decisions while relying on Musk to take on the tough questions and challenges ahead.
