CORRECTION: Amend everything I wrote below. A friend on Facebook just pointed out that Musk can't be president because he isn't a natural born citizen.
This morning I got to thinking about how Musk could end up as vice president and be positioned to become the next president. If the United States had a President Musk the richest man in the world would become the most powerful man in the world.
Musk, the star man, has boldly gone where no man has gone before.
He has actually moved into Mar-a-Lago.
I wouldn't be surprised if he manages to not only have a White House office but a bedroom there. Perhaps Melania can move into her parent's house. Then Musk could have her bedroom.
Historically there have been 10 very influential First Ladies (see list). Eleanor Roosevelt is probably the best known. Musk could end up being the first person Trump sees in the morning and the last person he sees at night with pop-in rights to the Oval Office thoughout the day.
If the sun could shine in the White House he'd literally be Trump's shadow. He'd be the shadow president. He'd have to be careful not to throw shade on Trump and he'd have to play his ambition cards very close to his chest. One thing I think he has in common with Trump is that he doesn't have a true best friend. Perhaps they could, for the first time in their lives, have a true best friend.
One thing he has in common with Trump is that he seems to spend as much time posting and re-posting on his X page (here) as Trump does on Truth Social. You can follow Trump's posts there without subscribing on the Trump's Truth website (here). The two posts below show that they are perverse peas in a pod. Below is his Thanksgiving card to the nation.
When I see how uninhibited Musk is in the scene below I can see how this lack of restraint is attractive to Trump. Trump tries to losen up physically as evidenced by his attempts to dance.
Musk often is pictured wearing his "Occupy Mars" t-shirt. I have to note that I am not totally against trying to settle people on Mars, but I think it is telling that instead of Musk having a shirt that says "Colonize Mars" his says "occupy" as if it is a country we are going to war against. I assume he was the only man at Trump's Mar-a-Lago Thanksgiving party wearing a t-shirt. This time it was an "X" t-shirt. Again, below, we see Trump expressing affaction toward his pal.
When I see photos like the one below I see more affection coming from Trump than I see him expressing for anyone except Barron. This includes Melania.
When I look at the photo below I wonder what is going on in J.D. Vance's mind. I think it is fair to say that Vance wasn't happy when he saw the photo below:
While there has been considerable speculation about who would be more dangerous to democracy a president between Trump and, should he die or become seriously ill, J. D. Vance.
I haven't seen anyone address the possibility that Musk could become vice president and thus be positioned to become president either during the next fours years or in the next election.
Trump can fire anybody in the Executive Branch except Vance. Presidents can't fire vice presidents. They either have to die or resign for the president to nominate a new vice president:
25th Amendment: Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the President shall nominate a Vice President who shall take office upon confirmation by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress.
If Trump wanted to replace Vance with Musk he'd have to persuade Vance to resign, or get rid of him in other ways - Considering the Supreme Court decisions on presdiential immunity I'll leave it to you to ponder on what methods he might employ if Vance didn't agree to leave gracefully.
My friends and I have concluded that J. D. Vance would be at least as dangrous to democracy if he was president as Trump. We haven't dicussed who would be a president who is more dangerous to democracy between Trump, Vance, and Musk. I have only begun to think about it today.
I think all three would want to govern in a dictatorial manner. I think Trump would be the most ruthless and bloodthirsty dictator intent on revenge against his enemies. Trump is sadistic. Vance and Musk don't really seem to enjoy watching people who cross them suffer. They may have enemies but I haven't seen examples of their wanting to inflict pain on them and want to enjoy seeing their lives ruined.
Addendum:
On graph of how boring a president could be, Trump will not be boring, anything but. He's a perfomance artist. Between the weave, the nicknames, the hyperbole, those he picked to be at his Madison Square Garden rally, and his willingness to do the outrageous (like some of his Cabinet picks) he's a Pandora's box of provocation. Vance would be a boring snoozer. Musk is also a performance artist. He might be even less boring than Trump.
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