Time Cover: Musk Running Trump’s Government?

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

1. Elon Musk is featured on the latest Time magazine cover.
2. Musk is depicted sitting at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office.
3. Donald Trump questioned the magazine’s continued existence.
4. Musk heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
5. He faces scrutiny for dismantling government agencies.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

Time magazine’s latest cover showcases Elon Musk seated at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, prompting US President Donald Trump to question the magazine’s relevance. The Time cover depicts Elon Musk with a coffee cup, against a backdrop of the American and presidential flags. The cover’s dominant color is a stark red.

Time even published a cover story on Friday, titled “Inside Elon Musk’s War on Washington,” highlighting the billionaire’s efforts to overhaul the federal government since Trump assumed office. Elon Musk, leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), aims to streamline the bureaucracy. He faces increasing scrutiny following allegations of dismantling agencies like the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of Education.

Authored by Simon Schuster and Brian Bennett, the story posits that the tech magnate’s initiatives have left “millions of government workers at Musk’s mercy.” Schuster and Bennett elaborate, “So far, Musk appears accountable to no one but President Trump, who handed his campaign benefactor a sweeping mandate to bring the government in line with his agenda. DOGE directed all of Time’s questions about its work to the White House, which declined to comment.”

When questioned about Time’s cover featuring Musk, Trump retorted, “Is Time’s magazine still in business? I didn’t even know that.” This marks Musk’s second appearance on the magazine’s print cover. Previously, Musk was featured as “Citizen Musk” in November of the previous year. That edition contained a complimentary article focusing on his role as a “kingmaker” in the November 5 presidential election.

Trump has twice been named Time’s “Person of the Year,” including a recent appearance after his victory in the presidential polls. The Republican, who has often expressed a desire to be on the cover, previously made headlines for fabricating an issue of the magazine praising his reality TV show, ‘The Apprentice’. Trump’s reaction to the Time cover featuring Musk has sparked debate about the tech mogul’s influence.

In early December, Trump dismissed rumors about Musk, a South African native, potentially taking over the presidency, stating, “it’s not happening” and citing the constitutional requirement of being a natural-born citizen to hold the office. The US Constitution mandates that the President must be a natural-born citizen of the United States. Trump’s comments coincided with increasing scrutiny from both supporters and Democrats regarding Musk’s growing influence within his administration. However, Trump’s office has consistently refuted speculation about Musk calling the shots.

Aakhir Tak – Key Takeaways to Remember

Elon Musk on Time cover, Trump questions magazine. Is Musk running Trump’s government? Musk faces scrutiny for agency dismantling. Trump questions magazine’s existence.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

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