PHOENIX — President-elect Donald Trump said he was usurped by Elon Musk, a prominent billionaire ally, in the week that Musk helped derail an emergency spending package to avert a government shutdown. He dismissed any suggestion that he was.
Trump said the idea that he had “ceded the presidency” to Musk is a fiction, and even if Musk wanted the job, the Constitution requires the president of the United States to be a natural-born citizen. Therefore, he said he could not take up the position. Mr. Musk was born in South Africa.
“No, from what I can tell you, he’s not going to be president,” Trump said. “And I’m safe. Do you know why he can’t do that? He wasn’t born in this country.”
Trump spoke for more than an hour at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest conference in Phoenix on Sunday, drawing wild cheers from thousands of conservative activists as he took the stage amid fireworks. has risen. This was the first rally-style event since the election.
Smoke billowed around the podium, sparklers rose from the floor, and the crowd stood to cheer as the president-elect wore his trademark suit and too-long red tie.
“Trump! Trump! Trump!” the audience chanted.
President Trump said, “The Golden Age of America has arrived.”
In his remarks, Trump also said he wanted to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin “as soon as possible” and called for an end to the “horrible” war between Russia and Ukraine.
During his campaign, Trump said he would use the influence and influence he believed he had gained over both Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky to bring the war to a quick end.
Raising another foreign policy issue, he reiterated a warning he made on social media on Saturday that Panama was charging exorbitant fees to use the Panama Canal, the passageway between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
If Panama does not relent, President Trump said he would insist on regaining control of the canal, which the United States relinquished under a treaty signed by then-President Jimmy Carter in 1977.
“We are being cheated on the Panama Canal just as we are being cheated on everywhere else,” Trump said.
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino posted on social media on Sunday that the canal belongs to Panama and that the country’s sovereignty is non-negotiable.
“Every square meter of the Panama Canal and its surrounding areas belongs to Panama and will always belong to Panama,” he said in a video message. “Our sovereignty and independence are non-negotiable. … It is part of our history of struggle and an irrevocable victory.”
President Trump also outlined new plans for a campaign-style advertising blitz aimed at discouraging drug use.
“I’m going to promote how drugs are bad for you,” Trump said. “They ruin your appearance, they ruin your face, they ruin your skin. They ruin your teeth. If you want bad teeth, take a lot of fentanyl.”
President Trump’s appearance at the meeting followed a tense standoff in Washington, D.C., over the past week that nearly led to a government shutdown.
Mr. Trump and Mr. Musk effectively blocked an emergency spending measure proposed by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, forcing lawmakers to find an acceptable alternative to keep the government running hours before the government shutdown took effect. was forced to.
Musk, who owns the social media site It’s an omen.
Derisively, Democrats began calling him “President Mask.” As history has shown, those who lift up or distract Trump do not last long in his orbit.
But Trump’s comments suggest he does not want a rift with Musk. For now, the two have common interests. Musk spent more than $250 million to help get Trump elected.
After his victory, Mr. Trump appointed Mr. Musk to head a new nongovernmental office whose mission is to reduce government costs and inefficiencies. Looking forward, Mr. Musk’s wealth could help keep the Republican Party in Mr. Trump’s fold. Republicans seeking to defy Trump may fear the new president will engineer a primary challenge funded by Musk.
Speakers at the conference downplayed the friction between Mr. Musk and Mr. Trump.
The president-elect’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., said in a speech Thursday night: “You see the media trying to destroy the relationship between my father and Elon. They’re trying to do what they do best. They are trying to cause that division in order to prevent that, and we cannot allow that to happen.”
Another speaker, Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), said in an interview with NBC News that Musk has an important role to play in eliminating waste in government.
“We bring in consultants from the private sector to give us a different perspective on what we’re spending our money on,” Mullin said.
Regarding Musk’s use of social media platforms, Marin said: He is still a civilian. He’s no different than anyone else. ”
With less than a month left until the 45th president will be inaugurated as the 47th president, President Trump seemed to be in a good mood. After calling Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to the stage, President Trump scanned the crowd and didn’t notice him at first.
“Is he somewhere? Ted? Ted?” Trump said. “Oh, oh, he’s in trouble.” Then Mr. Cruise emerged from backstage and the two shook hands and hugged.
At another point, Trump heard strange sounds on stage. “What the hell was that?” he said. “I get a little yips sometimes here.”
Trump, who faced two assassination attempts during the campaign, added: “Why?”
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