Does Elon Musk have the power to alter history with his growing political sway?

He is the world’s richest man. He is also the president’s largest campaign benefactor. His companies have grown on government contracts. And he is calling a lot of the shots in Washington. He is Elon Musk an unelected businessman who has spent the last couple of weeks with his allies tearing through Washington causing confusion and chaos in government agencies. Among the questions begging to be asked: How can he wield that kind of power? How can he run roughshod over laws and programs set up by Congress? There are obvious conflicts of interest. Why are they not being questioned? There are indications that the tech billionaire is getting reminders from the White House that he still needs to report to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. In fact, President Donald Trump suggested just that publicly and aides have reported he said the same thing. Musk may not prefer it that way. That said, he has wide latitude to slash spending and make changes to the way the federal government operates. And he is doing it at a rapid, even breakneck speed.