In a recent Oval Office press conference on February 11, 2025, MSNBC Host Lawrence O’Donnell offered a sharp analysis of the interaction between billionaire Elon Musk and President Donald Trump. O’Donnell suggested that Musk seemed to usurp presidential authority while Trump sat passively at the Resolute Desk, marking a notable shift in power dynamics within the White House.
During the 32-minute press conference, O’Donnell noted that Trump seemed to take a backseat, with Musk dominating the dialogue for approximately 20 minutes. Musk, casually attired in a T-shirt and cap, towered over the seated president. O’Donnell described this scene as “the most powerless image of a president of the United States ever created by a camera.”
Musk’s decision to bring his four-year-old son X to the meeting was another break from protocol. The child’s free movement around the Oval Office during Musk’s presentation raised eyebrows. However, social media claims that the child told Trump to “shush your mouth” were deemed “unproven” by fact-checkers.
The press conference focused on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative, which was under intense scrutiny. Despite claims of finding “billions of dollars in waste, fraud, and abuse,” there is little evidence to support these assertions. The DOGE website, intended to showcase these findings, lacks substantial information.
Musk made several contentious claims during the conference, including an incorrect statement about $50 million in U.S. funds being allocated for condoms in Gaza. Fact-checkers determined he was referring to a program in Mozambique. Musk also made unverified allegations about a former USAID administrator’s wealth and the processing of federal retirement paperwork in a mine shaft.
Commentators noted Trump’s unusual passivity during the press conference, contrasting his usually assertive demeanor. O’Donnell suggested that such a scene would not have occurred with former Vice President Mike Pence or current Vice President JD Vance, as Trump typically maintains control.
O’Donnell highlighted Trump’s past dominance in similar settings. However, critics made light of Trump’s lack of engagement, humorously proposing that he should have received a coloring book to keep himself occupied while Musk took control of the discussion.
The dynamic between Trump and Musk has drawn considerable attention. The MSNBC host stated that although Trump has long sought the approval of the ultra-wealthy, most of whom dismissed him as merely “phony rich” and “vulgar rich,” he seemed to have gained the interest of the world’s wealthiest man, albeit at the cost of his presidential dignity.
O’Donnell’s critical commentary comes despite credibility issues he faced in August 2019 when he incorrectly reported that Russian oligarchs co-signed Trump’s Deutsche Bank loans. After facing legal threats, O’Donnell apologized on-air, conceding he should have verified the report with multiple sources before broadcasting it.
The executive order signed at the event, which enhanced DOGE’s authority to downsize the federal workforce and enforce hiring restrictions, is expected to encounter legal challenges. Trump acknowledged that his administration must adhere to court rulings limiting the order’s scope.
On Wednesday, February 12, a federal judge in Boston, Massachusetts, removed a significant legal barrier hindering Trump’s plan to reduce the federal workforce through a deferred resignation program.
The judge’s decision, in response to a lawsuit by a consortium of labor unions, marked a crucial legal victory for the president following several previous losses in court.
Concerns remain regarding potential conflicts of interest due to Musk’s substantial government contracts with SpaceX and Tesla. Although Musk denies having a direct role in contracting decisions, critics argue that his closeness to decision-making processes could damage administrative credibility.
