Steve Davis Keeps Musk’s Influence Alive in DOGE Amid White House Tensions
- How Steve Davis Bridges Musk and DOGE’s Fractured Ranks
- DOGE 2.0: Musk’s Vision vs. Trump’s Fiscal Legacy
- Trump’s "Doge Monster" Threat and Musk’s Political Gambit
The political tug-of-war between Elon Musk's allies and the White House has thrust the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) into chaos, with Steve Davis acting as Musk's unofficial liaison. Internal loyalty tests, fiscal clashes between TRUMP and Musk, and whispers of a "DOGE 2.0" reboot dominate the drama. While the agency claims $190B in savings, skeptics question its credibility. Meanwhile, Musk’s America Party ambitions and Trump’s "Doge monster" jabs add fuel to the fire.
How Steve Davis Bridges Musk and DOGE’s Fractured Ranks
Steve Davis, Elon Musk’s longtime associate, remains the shadow operator keeping Musk’s influence alive within the embattled Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Despite resigning in May, Davis maintains backchannel communications with DOGE staff through Signal and calls, according to insiders. Current and former employees describe him as "close" to key personnel, even as the agency fractures into pro-Trump and pro-Musk factions. Internal meetings have devolved into loyalty tests, with staff pressured to pick sides. Davis’s role underscores Musk’s refusal to cede control: he reportedly reassured DOGE employees during a June 10 private meeting with Katie Miller (wife of Trump aide Stephen Miller), urging them to "stay the course." Critics argue Musk is protecting business interests—federal contracts for SpaceX, Tesla, and X (formerly Twitter) hang in the balance. The FAA’s testing of Starlink in multiple states exemplifies these overlaps.
DOGE 2.0: Musk’s Vision vs. Trump’s Fiscal Legacy
Musk’s allies are quietly drafting plans for "DOGE 2.0," a reboot prioritizing federal IT modernization over Trump-era job cuts. This faction, including Davis and tech consultant Joe Gebbia, pitched ideas to WHITE House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles in late June—like revamping the National Parks portal. Yet Trump loyalists dismiss it as a Musk vanity project. The original DOGE, a Trump second-term pet policy, now faces White House disavowal for failing cost-saving promises. While its website touts $190B in savings, economists across the spectrum doubt the figure’s validity. "It’s spreadsheet theater," quipped one analyst, citing opaque methodology. The agency’s limbo reflects a deeper ideological rift: Musk’s deficit-hawk tweets ("What was DOGE’s point if Trump adds $5T to the debt?") clash with Trump’s recent tax-and-spend bill, which Musk publicly derided as fiscally irresponsible.
Trump’s "Doge Monster" Threat and Musk’s Political Gambit
Tensions exploded when Trump joked to reporters, "We might have to set Doge on Elon. You know what Doge is? The monster that eats Elon." The jab followed Musk’s Social Truth post criticizing Trump’s fiscal policies (July 6, 2025). Musk’s retaliatory moves—endorsing anti-Trump Republicans like Thomas Massie and floating the "America Party"—signal a brewing political war. White House spokesperson Harrison Fields defended DOGE’s "efficiency wins," but the agency’s relevance wanes as both sides weaponize it. Meanwhile, Davis’s behind-the-scenes maneuvers keep Musk’s agenda afloat. As one DOGE staffer admitted, "It’s less about governance and more about who owns the narrative."
