Musk out, "Ice Lady" wins power play in Trump's White House
Elon Musk, often referred to as "the first buddy" of President Donald Trump, received a snub from the new president's chief of staff. He did not get an office in the White House.
Susie Wiles, Trump’s campaign chief of staff, became the White House Chief of Staff. She has a challenging task ahead: she must manage the egos of many figures around Trump, bring order to the White House's operations, control access to the president, manage senior staff, and work with Congress to advance his legislative agenda.
"There has never been an administration where power struggles erupted so early," said political analyst Frank Luntz in a conversation with "The Times". "But Wiles has the right heart and skills for it. If anyone is going to succeed, it's her," he added.
Elon Musk sidelined from Trump
Wiles quickly made it clear, stating that "anyone who cannot cooperate and focus on our common goals will not work in the White House." She warned that she does not tolerate "people who want to act solo or be a star."
This meant she had to tackle the challenge of stopping discussions about Elon Musk as the "co-president" or "real vice president", given his tendency to attract attention and promote his own agenda.
Musk, as the head of the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), sought his own office near the Oval Office. However, this did not happen. He and his team received a space in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, which is on the White House grounds but separated by a road from the main complex.
This was confirmed by President Trump during an executive order signing session. When asked by a reporter if Musk would receive a White House office, the president replied: "No." "He received an office for about 20 people we are employing to ensure those savings are implemented," added Trump.
The chief of staff, as reported by "The Times," listened to these words without reaction. They marked a significant victory for her.
That’s not all. In the executive order establishing DOGE, there was a provision stating that Musk, as the head of the office, must submit reports on his activities to the White House chief of staff.
This time, the "ice lady," as President Trump calls Wiles, won.
Source: thetimes.com
