Former FCC Chair Expresses Concern Over Musk Influence

Al Sikes headed FCC 1989-1993

As tech billionaire Elon Musk steps into an increasingly prominent policy role within the incoming Trump administration, a former chair of the Federal Communications Commission from the George H.W. Bush era has expressed concern about “the world’s richest man” acting as “the president’s voice” on critical issues. 

In his opinion piece titled “Who Is President?”, Alfred Sikes urged President-elect Donald Trump to “regain control.”

Elon Musk

Commenting on the looming budget crisis that could lead to a government shutdown on December 21, Sikes remarked that “within a very short time, Elon Musk, America’s richest man and a close associate of the president-elect, put his thumb down,” ultimately derailing a bipartisan spending plan. “It is reported that he posted his disapproval on his website 70 times. Just ten hours later, so did Donald Trump. Not a good look.”

“I don’t shy away from expressing my concern about the world’s richest man positioning himself to appear not as the President’s whisperer, but as the President’s voice,” Sikes concluded.

“This not only sends a troubling message, but it also foreshadows a clash of egos that could undermine the presidency. Regain control, Mr. President-Elect.”

This opinion piece was first reported by Policyband.