Time Magazine cover could mark the ‘beginning of the end’ for Elon Musk
A Time Magazine illustration of the billionaire seated in the Oval Office could make him a threat in the eyes of the President, commentators have said.
Elon Musk’s appearance on the cover of Time Magazine’s latest issue could signal the “beginning of the end” of his spot in Donald Trump’s inner circle, commentators have said.
The provocative cover illustrated Mr Musk – one of the President’s top donors and allies – sitting behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office.
Accompanying it was a lengthy story about Mr Musk’s “war on Washington” in his role as Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) chief, which aims to dismantle US government agencies and scrutinise federal spending.
Just two months after Time named Mr Trump its ‘Person of the Year’ – for the second time in less than a decade – he was asked if he had a reaction to Mr Musk’s appearance on the esteemed publication’s cover.
“Mr President, do you have any reaction to the new Time cover that has Elon Musk sitting behind your Resolute Desk?” one White House reporter asked during Mr Trump’s joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shigera Ishiba.
According to The Independent, Mr Trump’s body language “noticeably changed” before he answered the question, responding: “No. Is Time Magazine still in business? I didn’t even know that. Elon is doing a great job.”
MORE:‘Hate’: Ivanka lifts lid on leaving Donald Trump
One could assume Mr Trump’s ignorance here was feigned: when he was anointed ‘Person of the Year’ in December, the 78-year-old effusively praised the magazine, declaring it “a tremendous honour”.
He was previously bestowed the title in 2016, in the wake of his first election win, and last year beat out a shortlist of Vice-President Kamala Harris; Catherine, Princess of Wales; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; podcaster Joe Rogan; Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum; and, ironically, Mr Musk himself.
MORE:Where world’s richest men really hide their billions
“I have to say, Time Magazine getting this honour for the second time. I think I like it better this time, actually, because … but we did a good job,” he said.
“We had a great first term despite a lot of turmoil, caused unnecessarily. And, but the media is tamed down a little bit, they’re liking us much better now, I think, if they don’t, we’ll have to just take them on again and we don’t want to do that.
“But I do want to thank Time Magazine. I’ve been on the cover many times. I don’t know who has a record, but I can only probably talk well, about 25 per cent of the covers, 25 per cent are great. The others I just sort of hide.
“But it’s been an honour. Every time it’s an honour, I will tell you, and thank you very much for doing it.”
Political commentators in the US also drew parallels between Mr Musk’s cover this week, and its memorable cover of former White House chief strategist, Steve Bannon, who appeared on it exactly eight years ago this week with the headline, “Is Steve Bannon the Second Most Powerful Man in the World?”.
At the time, The New York Times reported Mr Trump “quietly expressed annoyance” at the attention Mr Bannon received in the media – but the Time cover cut particularly close to the bone.
“The cover of Time Magazine showed Bannon at the height of his powers, but it may also have set in motion his eventual downfall,” a BBC report on his 2017 departure from the White House noted.
In a post about Mr Musk’s cover for MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show’s blog on Sunday morning, producer, political contributor and author Steve Benen suggested it was “entirely possible that the president will put aside his legendary insecurities and be entirely unbothered by the magazine’s cover”.
“But it’s also possible that Trump, desperate to be the only star in his White House production, will find the image infuriating, and this will mark the beginning of the end of Musk’s powerful role in the administration.”
More Coverage
Originally published as Time Magazine cover could mark the ‘beginning of the end’ for Elon Musk
‘Violate’: Big call on Trump’s Gaza plan
A senior minister has suggested parts of Trump’s plan to take “ownership” of Gaza and turn it into the “Riviera of the Middle East” could violate international law.
Couple accused of having sex in front of kids
Two married cops have been arrested — and one of them stood down — after they allegedly shared nude photos of themselves with their kids in the background.