On December 5, 2024, Elon Musk met with Senate Republican Leader-elect John Thune amid tensions in Congress over a government funding bill. Democrats Jim McGovern and Rosa DeLauro accused Republicans of capitulating to Musk’s demands, compromising a plan to regulate U.S. investments in China. McGovern expressed concerns that Musk’s interests in China could endanger U.S. security, particularly with AI and technology developments. DeLauro criticized Musk’s close ties to Chinese leaders and referred to him as “President” Musk, highlighting his influence in Congress. Musk responded derogatorily to DeLauro and has been a significant backer of Donald Trump’s political aspirations post-election.
