Musk is back in US politics in time for 2026 midterm polls

Key Highlights

• Despite GOP trifecta, House hit historic low in 2025 in enacting laws 1 year into Trump 2.0: How rich have the Donald and his family become?A familiar role as mega donorDuring the 2024 election cycle, Musk was the country’s largest known political donor, spending nearly $300 million to back Trump and other Republican candidates.
• His renewed activity suggests he is once again set to play a major role in shaping Republican campaign strategy ahead of the midterm polls. The billionaire has also largely dropped earlier suggestions of launching a new political party, instead signalling a renewed focus on exerting influence within the existing two-party system. From ‘first buddy’ to budget cutterMusk’s rise as the so-called “first buddy” of the POTUS became one of the most unusual and turbulent political stories of 2025.
• His prominent role in the administration later gave way to a souring relationship, marked by personal attacks and public spats on social media. As Trump began his first year back in the White House, Musk was appointed to lead the newly created “Department of Government Efficiency”, tasked with spearheading an aggressive drive to cut federal spending. Radical ideas behind closed doorsA major donor to Trump’s 2024 campaign, Musk claimed DOGE could slash as much as $2 trillion from the federal budget.
• Privately, however, he reportedly entertained far more radical ideas. According to The New York Times, Musk told guests at a Republican fundraising dinner in 2023 that government bureaucracy could be rapidly reduced by granting him direct access to federal computer systems. Quick ReadsView AllInside China's economic woes: No buyers for properties seized by rural banks despite discountsWill Shehbaz Sharif be forced to withdraw Pakistan from Trump’s Board of Peace?Follow Firstpost on Google.
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