Elon Musk, founder of Space Exploration Technologies Corp.- SpaceX, joins President Donald J. Trump at a launch briefing in preparation for the launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon vehicle Wednesday, May 27, 2020, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)
At the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity, Executive Director Daniel McAdams explains the cautious optimism of liberty-focused Americans for Donald Trump’s cabinet appointees. He writes:
Exhibit one is the continued engagement of Ron Paul and his Institute by Trump insiders Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. While Dr. Paul is enthused about Musk’s proposal to cut two trillion from the US budget, he had no illusions that the kind words – including Elon Musk declaring that it would be great to have Ron Paul help them cut government (a suggestion that was endorsed by President-elect Trump’s own son) – were too much more than a last-minute frenzy to gain libertarian voters. No hard feelings, it’s just politics,
That’s why it was so encouraging that after the election both Musk and Ramaswamy reiterated their interest in working with Dr. Paul to cut government. Just three days ago, Ramaswamy commented on a Ron Paul Liberty Report clip about the need to cut two trillion from the budget: “Well said, Ron Paul. You’ll be hearing from us!”
Even today, when Ron Paul suggested auditing the Pentagon in light of its failure to account for the hundreds of billions shoveled into it each year, Elon Musk agreed enthusiastically:
Having the attention of Musk and Ramaswamy and Donald Trump, Jr. and others close to the incoming president is unprecedented for the Ron Paul Institute.
Does it mean that we will get everything we want? No. Does it mean that we are blindly supporting Trump? No. Does it mean that we are slamming the door in their faces because we’d rather make a point than make a difference? No way.
In addition to being a pro-peace organization, the Ron Paul Institute is dedicated to restoration of civil liberties and opposition to government tyranny. How about one of America’s strongest and most effective opponents of Covid tyranny, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., as Secretary of Health and Human Services? Yes, the same Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. who delivered a brilliant speech at the Ron Paul Institute’s 2021 conference!!!
And how about Tulsi Gabbard – a friend and a guest on RPI’s Ron Paul Liberty Report – nominated to fill the incredibly powerful position in charge of coordinating the nation’s 18 intelligence agencies? As our friend and former CIA officer Ray McGovern informs us:
“The DNI is in charge of preparing The President’s Daily Brief (PDB), National Intelligence Estimates and the annual Threat Assessment required by Congress. What is less well known is her role in covert action — a favorite of the C.I.A.’s clandestine service.”
Again, we are not going to get everything we want and we will be frustrated. We can remain on the sidelines clutching our pearls at these disappointments or we can do everything possible to amplify our voices when some people are listening.
And we will continue to criticize this Administration as we have every Administration since Obama’s gang when we started this Institute.
