If Musk starts to drag down the Republican Party, Trump will hear calls for "get rid of Musk" when the 2026 midterm elections arrive.

In Musk's "blitz" against the US federal government, no one is more excited than himself. Musk's posts on his social media platform X are full of emojis. He responds to his opponents' complaints, and he responds to new suggestions for cost-cutting goals proposed by supporters.

But not everyone can join the billionaire businessman, Tesla CEO and special employees who lead the "Efficiency Department" (hereinafter referred to as DOGE) Let’s laugh together, which includes some people who might have become Musk’s allies and support the goals DOGE wants to achieve. Musk's "attack first, ask questions later" approach may backfire, causing his efforts to resolve U.S. debt and other problems. As legal issues follow and Trump's popularity gradually affects, Musk's "invincible aura" may quickly dissipate. David Walker, who has served as the United States' Comptroller General (head of the U.S. Accountability Office), said: "I think it's a DOGE one." The department is very necessary and should have been established long ago, but I am very worried about how it performs its duties. ”

Most of the work done by DOGE is not public, and its structure has changed rapidly since Trump announced the establishment of the department. DOGE has been severely criticized for taking over Congress’ spending powers is triggering a constitutional crisis, with Wired and other media reporting that DOGE’s young employees entering the Treasury’s highly sensitive payment system has sparked concerns , Musk may attempt to unilaterally terminate expenditures that are not recognized by him.

Walker said: "No one wants to participate in the 'two-line struggle'. The 'two-line struggle' means that you fight for what you are doing , at the same time, fighting for how to do these things, most people cannot win the 'two-line struggle'." 。

"Two-line struggle" This claim may underestimate the opposition stirred by Musk, who has become the focus of some chagrined progressives who have not opposed Trump's 2024 victory as in 2016.

A Democratic senator said he would suspend votes on Trump's House nominee until DOGE and Trump revoke the closure of the US Agency for International Development ( USAID) plan.

This is a strong response to the closure of the United States Agency for International Development. The plan was initially considered another committee that wouldn't do anything to cut the deficit, but Musk said that as the work unfolded, his pursuit of goals changed.

On February 5, protesters held opposition outside the U.S. Department of Labor Musk's slogan.

On the morning of February 3, Musk said in an audio live broadcast event on X that his original intention was to try to "do a small scale for the United States Agency for International Development." Portal cleanup work”, and then these work became more of a thing.

Musk said: "After a deeper understanding of the United States Agency for International Development, we found that it was not an apple with a bug inside, but an apple that had been edible by the bug. The US Agency for International Development is mainly responsible for private foreign aid and development assistance. The fate of the agency is currently indecisive, with many staff members being arranged to temporarily stop working.

How much money has been saved by Musk and DOGE in total. Barron's magazine analyzed DOGE's announcement of cancellation of contracts, termination of office building lease contracts and other reductions, and concluded that the figure was around $1.5 billion.

The closing of federal agencies such as the United States Agency for International Development may save more money, but many affected employees are still receiving salaries. Musk said he believes he can save $1 trillion in about two years.

In obtaining unilateral closure of federal agenciesMusk's plan was not popular in the United States before the power. A poll conducted by Quinnipiac University in late December showed that 53% of voters disapprove of his role in Trump, when he was less influential than he is now. The gradual rise in opposition will bring more challenges to every step Musk hopes to take, even if these oppositions have no basis.

Walker said: "What is happening at the moment has not communicated well with the public at all. In the end, the public is very angry, but in fact they may not have to be so angry, in many cases In the case, what the public speculated is not accurate. ”

Musk, the world's richest man, may withstand public criticism, but he is the person in charge of DOGE and The person in charge of X or Tesla is different. In DOGE, Musk also has a "boss": US President Trump, a person known for his cruel instinct.

While often praises Musk and DOGE, Trump also made it clear that he is the "boss". Trump told reporters on February 3: "With our approval, Elon cannot and will not do anything."

February 7, People have seen signs that the relationship between Musk and Trump has begun to become tense. The White House said that Marko Elez, a former DOGE employee who had previously been granted access to the Treasury payment system, resigned on February 6. Prior to that, the Wall Street Journal reported that Elez was associated with a social media account that “advocating racism and eugenics.” After Ellez resigned, Musk posted a poll on X asking if he should reinstate Elez.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment from reporters regarding Ellez's resignation, nor did it respond to other questions related to DOGE. Musk did not respond to a request for comment from reporters through X and Tesla. The reporter was unable to contact Ellez himself for comment.

The midterm election will arrive in 2026, when the Republican Party may face a tough election, and if Musk starts to drag down the Republican Party, Trump will hear it Calls to "get rid of Musk".

The Democrats and Republicans will occasionally mistakenly believe that their parties have finally won a permanent majority, and American history has proved that they are wrong every time they think so. Musk seems to have not learned this lesson. He is moving forward unceasingly, but forgets that the Democratic lawmakers he ridiculed on social media - and some Republican lawmakers - will stillReceive the right to summon again.

Oxford University scientist Ben Ansell wrote in his newsletter Political Calculus: "In one of them, it is possible to suffer public negatives." In a world where all the people influential have veto power, it is impossible to formulate publicly. Games will inevitably produce losers and winners. However, deliberately crushing losers is a manifestation of indifference, sometimes even anti-social."

Whatever Musk's personality, betting on his failure to succeed is a risky move, and everyone who has tried shorting Tesla stocks knows this. Year after year, Musk successfully consolidated his power, even when he seemed to be about to lose.

Musk may cause trouble for DOGE, but Musk is likely to find a way to get himself through this crisis. After all, for Musk, Washington is just another stop on the road to Mars.