"Shadow President" Elon Musk just got put in his place — by Trump's Chief of Staff
"That's the one person who the richest man in the world will be deferential to - the most powerful man in the world," noted one source close to both Trump and Musk.


Elon Musk may be leading an unprecedented overhaul of the federal government, but even the world's richest man has a boss. The tech billionaire, recently appointed as a "special government employee," has received quiet but firm reminders that he must report to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, despite his expansive authority to reshape federal agencies.
"I'm not sure it was his preferred direction, and it did not seem like he was expecting it," a Trump aide told NBC News, describing Musk's reaction to being told he needed to answer to Wiles. The directive comes as Musk and his team - some as young as 19 years old - have taken up residence in the historic Secretary of War Suite, wielding extraordinary influence over government operations.
President Trump publicly qualified Musk's authority on Monday, telling reporters that the tech mogul "can't do and won't do anything without our approval." However, sources close to the situation reveal that Musk and Trump maintain frequent direct phone contact, with calls flowing both ways.
The scope of Musk's influence has rattled many within the government. "It 1,000% feels like Elon Musk is running the government," said one anonymous official at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Already, Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has secured over 20,000 "deferred resignations" from federal employees and is pushing to completely shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Despite these constraints, Musk's access remains unprecedented. He has gained entry to sensitive government databases and the Treasury Department's payment system, though sources say he can only view, not modify, payment data. His young team, many lacking any government experience, has spread throughout federal agencies, approaching them with a private-sector mindset focused on downsizing and modernization.
The Justice Department appears to be backing Musk's efforts, with Trump-appointed interim U.S. attorney Ed Martin announcing preparations to prosecute those who publicly identify key DOGE engineers. Musk responded to this announcement on X with a terse warning: "Don't mess with @DOGE."
As this rapid transformation of federal institutions continues, the dynamic between Musk - Trump's biggest political donor - and the White House leadership structure remains under close scrutiny.
NBC contributed to this article.