Lori Falce: Is Trump captain of his ship or is Musk?

The prow of a ship is often decorated with a carved object. It may represent the name of the vessel. It may be something important to the owner or the nation whose flag flies on the mast.

Over the years, these have been depictions of deities. They have been mythological characters. They have been representative animals. They are often famous for being beautiful women.

What they do not do is steer the ship.

They are called figureheads for a reason. They are ornaments only. The captain is still calling the shots.

We have figureheads in business and politics, too. You might have an elderly captain of industry whose kids are doing the real day-to-day business of keeping the doors open and the money flowing. You may have an equally elderly senator whose staff is making the decisions while he shows up to cast votes.

Both can be as much a figurehead as the mermaid on the front of a pirate ship.

Which makes one wonder — who is captain of the incoming White House ship, and who is just the carved and gilded ornament on the prow?

On Tuesday, Washington was abuzz with uncharacteristic synergy as both parties and both chambers worked toward a bipartisan continuing resolution bill. That plan would head off a government shutdown and allow President-elect Donald Trump to start his work — which includes a hefty slate of first-day priorities — without being hamstrung.

Then, at 2:46 p.m., billionaire and “first buddy” Elon Musk posted to his X.com profile, “Stop the steal of your tax dollars!” on a retweet of his Department of Government Efficiency account. Trump has said Musk and former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy will run this department — slyly named after Musk’s favorite cryptocurrency.

It can’t be emphasized enough that the “DOGE” does not exist. A government department has a particular meaning and must be approved by Congress. The idea is a proposal for a commission that would make recommendations for cutting spending and eliminating regulations.

Trump issued a statement, and the bill’s Republican support crumbled like a stale Christmas cookie.

“My phone was ringing off the hook,” Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., told the Associated Press. “The people who elected us are listening to Elon Musk.”

And that’s a problem. Musk has not been elected to anything. He may have poured money into the election like a never-ending fountain, but “donor-in-chief” is not a recognized role.

But, Thursday, someone proposed giving him official power. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., proposed making Musk Speaker of the House. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is suffering the same kind of backlash against dealmaking that brought down his predecessor, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in 2023.

It could happen. The speaker doesn’t have to be elected to Congress, for reasons that defy explanation. And Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., one of the loud voices that brought down McCarthy, says she’s open to the idea.

One problem with this is the role of speaker in the line of succession. It comes immediately after the vice president, meaning, in the event of any kind of incapacity, the speaker could become president. But Musk, who is South African by birth, can’t be president under the Constitution.

Trump has been less visible than Musk lately. That’s not a criticism. The transition is a lot of work, and it comes on the heels of a very aggressive campaign season that Trump admitted was exhausting.

It leads to a confusing narrative where Musk speaks and the GOP jumps in a way it has become accustomed to responding to Trump. Is that because the guy with the title is behind him or because Musk is the guy with the checkbook? Money and power are the fuel that power Washington, so it could go either way.

But only one person can steer the ship. Musk is famously a guy who wants credit for the ideas of the companies he runs, whether he bought them after someone else had the idea or not. Trump also is adamant about being seen as the smartest guy in any room.

One of them is bound to be surprised to find out he’s just the gilded sculpture out front while someone else is calling the shots.