At AmericaFest, Trump Dismisses Speculations of Musk as Shadow President
During a speech concluding Turning Point’s annual AmericaFest event, President-elect Donald Trump paused his post-election celebrations to respond to allegations that Elon Musk is influencing his presidency.
“He’s not going to be president, that much I can assure you,” Trump told a large audience in Phoenix, Arizona, on December 22.
“He can’t be. He wasn’t born in this country.”
The Constitution stipulates that only natural-born citizens are eligible to serve as president. Although Musk, the founder of SpaceX, is an American citizen, he was born in South Africa to non-American parents before relocating to Canada and then to the United States.
Discussions about “President Musk” emerged among Democrats, who have depicted the world’s richest man as a shadow authority following Trump’s November election triumph.
This narrative gained momentum during the fight over the continuing resolution, as Musk made several posts on his social media platform X, voicing his opposition to a substantial funding bill of about 1,500 pages that lawmakers were considering.
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Lawmakers ultimately approved a significantly reduced bill on December 20, just hours before a government shutdown was set to take place.
In his speech, Trump fondly reminisced about how Musk endorsed him in a crucial battleground state, Pennsylvania, toward the end of the campaign.
He provided a straightforward explanation for collaborating closely with Musk, a prolific entrepreneur and the richest individual globally, with a net worth nearing $430 billion.
“I prefer to work with intelligent people,” Trump stated.
President-elect Donald Trump speaks alongside Elon Musk (C) and Senate members including (L-R) Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), and Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas) before attending a viewing of the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket in Brownsville, Texas, on November 19, 2024.Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Pledges to Restore Historic Names
The president-elect’s statements were filled with promises, some reminiscent of his campaign trail, while others were more innovative.
He committed to renaming the tallest mountain in North America after President William McKinley, who was in office during the early 20th century and, like Trump, was a proponent of tariffs.
“We believe he deserves it. I believe he deserves it,” Trump remarked.
The name “Denali” is rooted in the state’s indigenous Athabascan culture.
People gather for AmericaFest, hosted by Turning Point in Phoenix, AZ., on December 22, 2024. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times
Trump previously discussed the likelihood of reverting the mountain’s name at the beginning of his presidency. He reportedly inquired with Alaska’s senators, Dan Sullivan (R) and Lisa Murkowski (R), about their support for such a change, but they advised against it.
“That wasn’t very respectful towards someone who did a good job,” Trump commented in Phoenix.
He also reiterated his commitment to restoring the name of the military installation formerly known as Fort Bragg, named after Confederate Army General Braxton Bragg, who also fought in the Mexican-American War.
Trump’s remarks included other military facilities with names that trace back to the Confederacy. The Naming Commission, established in March 2021, was formed to identify these names and recommend changes.
“Wokeness needs to come to an end, as it is harming our country,” the president-elect declared.
Tom Homan speaks at AmericaFest, hosted by Turning Point in Phoenix, Ariz., on December 22, 2024. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times
Trump’s address at the conclusion of AmericaFest was preceded by speeches from various individuals, including comedian Rob Schneider, Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Tom Homan, a U.S. Border Patrol veteran appointed by the incoming president as his border czar.
“Tren de Aragua, your time is running out,” Homan asserted, referencing the Venezuelan transnational criminal organization. “My gang’s larger than yours!”
