US politics: Elon’s ‘unrivalled’ new power called out as ‘crazy’, Donald Trump meets with King of Jordan

After being called out for grabbing an “unrivalled” amount of power in the US, Elon Musk popped up next to Donald Trump.

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Elon Musk, the billionaire who continues to lead a cost-cutting drive within the new Trump administration, has popped up in the Oval Office to answer questions about his actions.

The head of Donald Trump’s DOGE initiative, who also remains the CEO of multiple companies, brought along one of his children, who is apparently named X Æ A-Xii.

Speaking to reporters with the young lad on his shoulders, Mr Musk sought to justify his mission inside the government, brushing aside concerns about its legality.

“The people voted for major government reform and that’s what the people are going to get,” Mr Musk said.

The criticism of Mr Musk’s role in the government has been growing in volume. Overnight, for example, the British broadcaster Louis Goodall put it bluntly.

“In many of these cases, the agencies he’s shutting down, the things that he is doing, he does not have the authority to do so,” he said on LBC Radio.

“Only Congress can actually shut these agencies down. But Congress, and others, aren’t willing to act.

“We have not seen anything like this before.”

Mr Goodall went on to call the situation “crazy”.

Mr Musk answering questions with his young son on his shoulders. Picture: Alex Brandon

Earlier, Mr Trump met with the King of Jordan, Abdullah II, whose country would theoretically play a central role in his scheme to deport the entire Palestinian population from the Gaza Strip, allowing the United States to take control of the territory.

The President has suggested Jordan could absorb a million of those Palestinians, with Egypt taking the other million or so.

Sitting next to King Abdullah at the White House today, Mr Trump was asked why Jordan should take in the Palestinians, given the King has made it “clear he doesn’t want to”.

“I believe we’ll have a parcel of land in Jordan” Mr Trump said.

“I believe we’ll have a parcel of land in Egypt, we may have some place else, but I think when we finish our talks, we’ll have a place where they’re going to live very happily and very safely.

“With Egypt, I think you’re going to see some great progress. I think with Jordan, you’re going to see some great progress.”

He was referring to upcoming negotiations with a group of Arab nations.

Later, in a statement issued after his visit to the White House, King Abdullah was blunter.

“I reiterated Jordan’s steadfast position against the displacement of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank,” he said of his private meeting with Mr Trump.

“This is the unified Arab position. Rebuilding Gaza without displacing the Palestinians and addressing the dire humanitarian situation should be the priority for all.

“Achieving just peace on the basis of the two-state solution is the way to ensure regional stability. This requires US leadership.”

Read on for the latest updates.

Originally published as US politics: Elon’s ‘unrivalled’ new power called out as ‘crazy’, Donald Trump meets with King of Jordan