I think so.
For all his showmanship, Trump intimidates. Plus, it’s hard to believe Musk didn’t rig/influence the election. That would be a hell of a power chip. Who, on the “winning” side, would risk that coming out? And on the left it’s highly taboo to even nudge the idea after the way Trump acted in 2020. Musk gets a complete pass from Congress and keys to the entire 6 trillion treasury of the country AND all SS# and other data of Americans. ALL 3 branches of government are rolling over and playing dead on it, for an immigrant (which the GOP dislikes), for a manufacturer of electric cars and solar (which the GOP dislikes), who is entirely unelected by anyone, and does not qualify to be President in name by virtue of our founding documents.
Why? What’s the Occam’s razor on this question?
Back to Trump being intimidated. There’s a vid clip of Trump I cannot seem to dig up again, that shows him exiting from something onto safe ground post N Korea visit. He looks like a man who is shitting himself and not in the standard 80yo loss of bowel control due to “metal fatigue” of the anal sphincter and such over time way, which he apparently does have, but out of fear. The man looks terrified. I’m surprised we got our President, such as he was and is, back that day. I think he was too, judging by his face.
My read of Trump is he only respects people who intimidate him. Putin. Jong Un. Musk.
What’s killer about all of this is we don’t have all the info. Most of the non-rag publications have been booted from the press rooms. What we hear is mostly what they choose to talk about in measured doses. And as the purge continues, that will become increasingly more narrow.
I love ProPublica, they have solid, honest reporting, but I wonder at their level of access.