Elon Musk Backed Trump Into a Corner

Playbook: “But here’s the thing — Johnson probably wouldn’t be in this position if it weren’t for Musk, who spent all day Wednesday stoking rage on the right over Johnson’s deal.”

“There was little evidence Trump cared much about the CR before that. We’re told that Trump’s team was aware of the contours of the deal and did not object. It was not a matter of debate during Saturday’s Army-Navy game discussion, which focused mostly on reconciliation. And we’re also told Republicans passed off the details of the deal to those close with Trump.”

“So the most prominent theory of what happened yesterday is this, per multiple Hill Republicans: Musk, as the anointed co-chair of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency panel, got waaay out over his spending-slashing skis and backed Trump into a corner.”

“Senior Hill Republicans are super peeved that Musk — whom they see as an ally in cutting government waste starting next year — began making demands that are impossible to placate with a Democratic president and Democratic Senate still in control.”

Washington Post: A government shutdown looked unlikely. Then Elon Musk took to X.