Trump and Musk Criticized for Giving Billionaires Too Much Power in Government

There is growing concern in the U.S. about how much power wealthy people now have in government, especially under President Donald Trump and billionaire businessman Elon Musk.

At Trump’s 2025 inauguration, the three richest Americans—Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg—were seated right behind him. Alongside them were other billionaires appointed to key positions in government. Many people say this was a clear message: the country’s richest people are now openly running the government.

Critics, including U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, say this is a sign that billionaires are no longer hiding their control over politics. For years, wealthy individuals and corporations have influenced U.S. politics through big donations and lobbying. But now, Sanders says, it’s all being done openly.

Musk donated over $270 million to Trump’s election campaign, and critics say he is now one of the most powerful people in government decisions.

Cuts to Social Security Raise Concerns

One of the main concerns is how this billionaire-led government is affecting regular Americans. Under Trump, the government has made several cuts to the Social Security system, which provides monthly payments to retired and disabled Americans.

The Social Security Administration has closed many offices, reduced phone services, and plans to lay off half of its workers. This has made it harder for people to apply for benefits or speak to staff. The website has also crashed multiple times.

Elon Musk has called Social Security “the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time,” but many experts say that is not true. Social Security has worked for nearly 90 years, helping millions of people avoid poverty.

The Trump administration is also planning to cut 83,000 jobs at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which would likely make it harder for military veterans to get healthcare and other benefits.

At the same time, Trump and his team are working on new tax laws that would give huge tax cuts to the richest Americans. Reports suggest these tax cuts could cost $1.1 trillion, with most of the benefits going to the wealthiest 1%. To pay for this, the government may reduce funding for programs like Medicaid, education, housing, and food assistance, which help low-income families.

One study says that while the richest 5% would benefit from these tax cuts, taxes could actually go up for 95% of Americans.

These actions have started a big debate in the U.S. Some people believe Trump and Musk are using their business skills to make government better. But many others believe the government is now working mainly for the rich, while cutting support for ordinary people, seniors, and veterans.

Senator Sanders and others argue that the U.S. government should serve everyone—not just billionaires.