The internet has been sent into hysterics after a video from Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration shows a stark contrast between Barron Trump and Elon Musk’s ‘bizarre’ and excited reaction.
It’s no surprise to anyone that Elon Musk was front and center for much of Donald Trump’s presidential welcome, as the richest man in the world has played a key part in the election campaign and post-victory plans.
Musk’s own mother has commented on how close the pair are, and Elon has now officially taken his place as co-head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) following a pledge to cut $2,000,000,000,000 from federal spending.
Outside of his government affiliations though perhaps the thing that Musk is known for the most is SpaceX – in particular his desire to visit and eventually colonize Mars.
It appears as if Trump is also a keen fan of these plans, as the President mentioned this as something he wants to achieve within the next four years, and that certainly appeared to please the SpaceX founder.
“We will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars,” outlined President Trump, “by launching American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars.”
This is quite a clear statement of intent, and it could signal that Trump is willing to forgo the regulatory and economic hurdles that have prevented astronauts from setting foot on the Moon for over half a century.
What many have actually focused on in line with this statement though is the reaction of Elon Musk, shown in a cutaway shortly after, especially as it offers quite the contrast to Barron Trump – the president’s son – in front of him.
Musk is shown gleefully nodding, cheering, and giving two thumbs up, whereas Barron Trump looks rather contemplative and even annoyed, especially in juxtaposition to Elon’s enthusiasm.
Social media, of course, has had a lot of fun with this clash of personalities, and the reaction has been that of hysterics across X (formerly Twitter).
“Elon Musk always looks like the annoying classmate who used to throw paper airplanes from the last row,” outlines one user, whereas “Barron, on the other hand, at 18, looks like he’s about to preside over the Supreme Court in a joint session.”
You certainly wouldn’t be able to guess which one of the two actually holds a role in government right now!
Another user adds that they’re “getting some strong King Joffrey vibes from Barron Trump,” while “Elon must be high AF. Nobody acts like that unless they’re 5 yrs old or poppin pills.”
Someone even goes so far to argue that “Barron knows how s*** his dad will be, while Elon Musk dances around like a clown, he will do whatever to try and get one more dollar.”
It’s up to you to decide what to take from this bizarre clip, but it certainly shows the clash of personalities that could be present in this new regime.
Are you looking for your next opportunity?
You may not have to look further as Elon Musk’s DOGE is hiring.
Co-headed by billionaires Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, DOGE is looking to fill ‘a very small number’ of full-time, salaried positions.
DOGE was created by US President-elect Donald Trump in November last year and whilst it isn’t a federal agency, it does have an initiative tasked with finding ways to slash billions in federal spending.
The group said that it had received thousands of applications from job-seekers in November.
Since its launch, it has drawn a lot of interest with thousands of applications already submitted.
Andrew Harnik / Staff / Getty
However, Musk and Ramaswamy have made it clear they’re only reviewing the top 1% of candidates. Those willing to apply must be ‘super high-IQ’ individuals willing to work more than 80 hours on what they call ‘unglamorous cost-cutting.’
If that sounds like your kind of challenge, DOGE might be worth a shot.
In late December, DOGE issued a new call for applicants with human resource, information technology and finance backgrounds.
On Tuesday, the department announced it was adding new roles to its hiring list.
“Recruiting for a very small number of full-time salaried Software Engineers and InfoSec [Information Security] Engineers,” the department said.
The organisation hasn’t been specific as to what qualifications they’re looking for, but interested candidates can apply by sending a message on X (formerly Twitter).
All they need to do is write a direct message to DOGE with a ‘few bullet points demonstrating exceptional ability, and your cell phone number.’
It’s also worth noting that DOGE hasn’t disclosed salary ranges or clarified how these positions will be funded – whether taxpayer money or through private funding.
Brandon Bell / Staff / Getty
DOGE has also not provided any details on the hiring process or workers’ salaries.
Here is a full list of roles DOGE has said it’s hiring for:
Super high-IQ ‘small-government revolutionaries’ to work on ‘unglamorous cost-cutting’
Full-time, salaried software engineers
Information security engineers
Human resource professionals
Information technology professionals
Finance professionals
DOGE has targeted organisations like Planned Parenthood, claiming they receive about $300 million in federal funding each year.
It’s also called out international organisations that receive $1.5 billion in grants.
According to an opinion piece by Musk and Ramaswamy in the Wall Street Journal last year, the duo referred to themselves as ‘outside volunteers, not federal officials or employees’ whose aim is simply to cut costs.
Obviously, DOGE might not be everyone’s dream workplace, but if you’re up for a new challenge and meet the mark, it could be your next hit.
Featured Image Credit: Anna Moneymaker / Staff / CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON / Contributor / Getty
Viewers in shock at image worth ‘$4,500,000,000,000’ captured at Trump’s inauguration
The rich are set to get richer under the Trump administration
Donald Trump is back in office, and promising that America’s ‘Golden Age’ is upon us, he’s vowing to build big and build fast. Living up to the promises of his ‘Make America Great Again’ motto, Trump’s inauguration speech covered everything from defense to manufacturing, listing what he thinks is currently wrong with America and how he plans to build on it from the Biden administration.
There were some huge names in attendance, and alongside three former Presidents and Joe Biden handing over power, there were celebrities ranging from Jake Paul to Amber Rose.
Silicon Valley was also out in force, with the heads of Amazon, Google, Apple, and Meta all there. Trump’s right-hand man was obviously there, with Elon Musk once again grabbing the spotlight. Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Tim Cook were major headliners, with someone pointing out how much money was in one room.
The world’s richest people gathered at Donald Trump’s inauguration (Chip Somodevilla / Staff / Getty)
Posting on X, one user reiterated how the worths of Musk, Bezos, Zuckerberg, and Google CEO Sundar Pichai would be around $4.5 trillion.
In the post, they divisively wrote: “About $4.5 trillion in this image alone at the inauguration. The US is not a liberal democracy. It is, at best, a severe meritocracy, and at worst, an outright oligarchy.”
Elon Musk is the world’s richest man and is on track to becoming the world’s first trillionaire, but with his wealth currently sitting at $433.9, he’s still got a way to go.
Bezos is in second with a healthy $239.4 billion, while Zuckerberg’s $211.8 billion is a close third. After that, Oracle’s Larry Ellison is in fourth with $204.6 billion.
Pichai’s net worth is harder to track down, but in 2024, it was reported to be in excess of $1.3 billion. He might be a long way off the rest of the tech bros’ worth, but it’s not exactly a tiny amount.
About $4.5 trillion in this image alone at the inauguration. The US is not a liberal democracy. It is, at best, a severe meritocracy, and at worst, an outright oligarchy. #Inauguration2025 #Trump
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Cheering on the group, one person wrote: “Without those five guys, you wouldn’t have internet, social media, a house, and nothing but to live under a tree, freezing and starving to death.”
Another said, “That is *seriously* f**king cool. Can anyone seriously imagine the European Union producing an image like that?”
While a third concluded: “If it’s their ideas and their ingenuity that lead them to wealth then I’m ok with them lending those ideas and ingenuity to the country. We need our brightest minds making our nation’s decisions.”
Trump is powering ahead with a new tech-focused future where all of the above are only set to get richer. In particular, Elon Musk’s wealth has soared in the aftermath of the election. Cryptocurrencies have also climbed, with Bitcoin hitting a record high of $104,000 on January 18.
It’ll be interesting to come back in another four years and see what the Silicon Valley boys are all worth then.
Featured Image Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Staff / Pool/Pool / Getty
Elon Musk reported to be sued within minutes of Donald Trump’s inauguration
The Department of Government Efficiency could get him into hot water
January 20 is a big day for the United States, with Donald Trump returning to office as the 47th President of the United States. Joe Biden is out, and with Trump itching to get his feet back under the table, he’s reported to be signing up to 200 executive orders on his first day.
Mark Zuckerberg, Jake Paul, Jeff Bezos, and more celebrity names are all in attendance, with the tech world uniting under the ‘Make America Great Again’ banner. After becoming something of a right-hand man for Trump, Elon Musk will be there by his side.
Unfortunately for the world’s richest man, there are reports that he could be sued within minutes of Trump being sworn in.
There are questions about the DOGE’s transparency (Getty Images News / Getty)
As reported by The Washington Post, a lawsuit claiming that the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency violates federal transparency rules is due to be filed moments after Trump’s inauguration.
The 30-page complaint has been obtained by the outlet, with public interest law firm National Security Counselors saying that the DOGE breaks a 1972 rule stating that advisory committees have to follow certain transparency protocols.
Musk and co-hear Vivek Ramaswamy are tasked with cutting $2 trillion from government spending, although the tech billionaire has admitted it might not be possible. DOGE is set to send emissaries to various U.S. agencies and recommend areas where spending can be cut. There are already questions about transparency, especially with DOGE employees communicating on the Signal encrypted messaging app.
The lawsuit claims that the DOGE should be considered a ‘federal advisory committee, and with that, it’s a legal entity that needs to be regulated to ensure it gives balanced advice.
These FACAs have to be ‘fairly balanced’, keep minutes of meetings, allow members of the public to attend, and file a charter with Congress.
The lawsuit states “DOGE is not exempted from FACA’s requirements. All meetings of DOGE, including those conducted through an electronic medium, must be open to the public.”
It’s written by Kel McClanahan, executive director of National Security Counselors.
The Washington Post speculates that Musk will push back on the lawsuit, due to disdain for ‘lawfare’.
Things are coming to a head following the January 20 inauguration (Tasos Katopodis / Stringer / Getty)
Sam Hammond is a senior economist at the Foundation for American Innovation who thinks Donald Trump won’t treat the DOGE as FACA: “DOGE isn’t a federal advisory committee because DOGE doesn’t really exist. DOGE is a branding exercise, a shorthand for Trump’s government reform efforts.”
“The president is allowed to take advice from external experts without creating a formal advisory committee.”
In 1993, then-First Lady Hillary Clinton was accused of breaking FACA by leading a study into health-care reform. Although critics said she shouldn’t be considered an official member of the government, the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in her favor.
Among the plaintiffs is Joshua Erlich, a man who owns an employment law firm that is known for representing federal employees. Erlich also applied to join DOGE, saying that the body “does not currently have an individual who will speak on behalf of government workers and their interests.” His application was unsuccessful.
The lawsuit names 17 people who are affiliated with DOGE, writing: “Not a single member of DOGE is a federal employee or represents the perspective of federal employees.”
Speaking to The Post, McClanahan explained: “We’re not trying to say DOGE can’t exist. Advisory committees like DOGE have been around for decades. We’re just saying that DOGE can’t exist without following the law. If DOGE turns around and complies with FACA, the case is over.”
Featured Image Credit: Pool/Pool / Tasos Katopodis/Stringer / Getty
Elon Musk’s SpaceX rocket explodes minutes after takeoff as footage shows fiery explosion
Meanwhile, Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin get a successful launch
There’s more tragedy in the modern space race, but thankfully, no one was hurt as one of Elon Musk’s rockets exploded just minutes after takeoff.
The tech bros are locking horns, and while Musk’s SpaceX might feel way ahead of Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, it seems the pair’s past history is spurring them on to beat each other in conquering the cosmos.
Unfortunately, just days after Bezos delayed his New Glenn rocket from going into orbit, SpaceX has faced its own potential setback.
The 400ft Starship rocket was said to be the biggest and most powerful in the world, with the emphasis on the was part of that sentence. Launching at 4:40 p.m. local time from Boca Chica in south Texas, the upper stage of the Starship was said to have been ‘lost’ just minutes later.
The upper section of SpaceX’s Starship was lost just minutes after launch (SpaceX)
Posting on X, SpaceX confirmed: “Starship experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly during its ascent burn. Teams will continue to review data from today’s flight test to better understand root cause.
“With a test like this, success comes from what we learn, and today’s flight will help us improve Starship’s reliability.”
A host on the SpaceX livestream explained: “It looks like we lost contact a little under eight and a half minutes into the flight.”
Footage doing the rounds on social media shows what looks to be the Starship exploding in a fiery inferno, with balls of light and trails of smoke seen over the Haitian capital of Port-Au-Prince.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it was made aware that ‘an anomaly occurred’, issuing a statement confirming it slowed and diverted aircraft around the area where debris was falling. Still, it wasn’t long until normal operations were resumed.
This wasn’t a total failure for SpaceX, with some of the mission going as planned. Following the Starship’s launch, its Super Heavy booster returned to Earth and hovered above the ground before it was gripped by giant mechanical arms. There was rapturous applause from control teams on the ground, but this likely won’t take away from the disaster of the launch in general.
Starship exploding captured on an airplane
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Mr. Musk has spoken out about the incident, sharing footage of a fiery trail and adding: “Success is uncertain, but entertainment is guaranteed!”
With SpaceX picking itself up and dusting itself off, Musk promised there are ‘improved versions’ of the Starship on the way and ‘already waiting for launch.’
He said nothing suggests the next launch will be pushed past next month, so there isn’t long to wait to see Starship hopefully soar to new heights.
As for what caused the latest blunder, he concluded: “Preliminary indication is that we had an oxygen/fuel leak in the cavity above the ship engine firewall that was large enough to build pressure in excess of the vent capacity.”
As for Blue Origin, Bezos finally got the New Glenn off the ground and was met with congratulations by Musk. Somewhat burying the hatchet, the world’s richest man wrote: “Congratulations on reaching orbit on the first attempt! @JeffBezos.”
