Axelrod: Trump, Musk need to 'decide who the president is'

Democratic strategist David Axelrod poked fun at President-elect Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk for their public dialogue after the duo pushed back against House Republicans' bill to avert a government shutdown ahead of Friday's deadline.

“What was confusing to me is Musk sends out one of his tweets, and he says no one should do anything until Jan. 20 when Trump gets there,” Axelrod said during a Wednesday morning CNN appearance "AC360." 

“Trump sends out a tweet saying they ought to pass a clean, a clean [continuing resolution]. … So they seem to be saying different things, and eventually they’re gonna have to get together and decide who the president is," he added.

Earlier Axelrod told guest host Jim Sciutto that it looked like Republicans were making headway before Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy chimed in urging lawmakers to vote against the bill. 

In a series of posts, the SpaceX CEO declared the bill a “piece of pork” and said those who support it should not be reelected.

“Any member of the House or Senate who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in 2 years!” he wrote in a post on social platform X, which he owns.

He also rang the alarm for constituents to call their representatives to flunk the legislation intended to fund the government through March.

Trump had urged Republicans earlier in the day to approve a clean funding bill paired with a debt ceiling hike, but later balked at the idea of passing a continuing resolution that merely funds the government.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) condemned Musk for weighing in, while also poking fun at the tech giant sarcastically referring to him as “president.”

“Democrats and Republicans spent months negotiating a bipartisan agreement to fund our government. The richest man on Earth, President Elon Musk, doesn’t like it. Will Republicans kiss the ring?” Sanders wrote Wednesday on X.

Amid a ticking timeline, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also condemned the GOP for prolonging the process.

“Triggering a damaging government shutdown would hurt families who are gathering to meet with their loved ones and endanger the basic services Americans from veterans to Social Security recipients rely on,” Jean-Pierre said. 

“A deal is a deal. Republicans should keep their word," she added.

Controversy ensued after House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) sought last minute adds that some believe could increase the national debt by millions.