(Gage Skidmore)
A state of chaos erupted on Capitol Hill Thursday, leaving many in Washington scrambling after Republican infighting derailed an effort to prevent a government shutdown. A CNN analysis suggests this chaotic situation was not an accident, but rather a purposefully orchestrated outcome that could set the stage for even greater turmoil in the future.
“Welcome to the new Washington,” wrote Stephen Collinson of CNN, commenting on the latest upheaval. The turmoil began when Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and a key ally of President-elect Donald Trump, issued a warning that effectively doomed House Speaker Mike Johnson’s proposed spending bill aimed at halting the imminent government shutdown.
Collinson highlighted that while Trump appeared central to the situation, he may have made a grave mistake by allowing such chaos to unfold. The analysis suggests that if Trump wants to accomplish his goals, he must find a way to stabilize the situation.
“The Trump-Musk blocking maneuver plunged the capital into one of its classic year-end crises, pitched Johnson’s hopes of keeping his job into extreme doubt, and offered a preview of the chaos that may churn in Trump’s second term,” Collinson wrote.
The Washington chaos extended beyond just the government shutdown. The Dow Jones experienced a historic 10-day streak of losses, Trump’s controversial Cabinet picks faced uncertainty, and growing threats of retribution against perceived enemies escalated tensions in the capital.
Collinson pointed out that for many of Trump’s supporters, the disorder is the goal. “For many of Trump’s supporters and boosters in the conservative media who are anticipating massive cuts to federal programs, the mayhem is the point,” he wrote.
Even if the impasse leads to a damaging shutdown, it may be seen as a step toward dismantling the government. Trump is doing exactly what he promised to do on the campaign trail by attacking Washington before even taking office.
However, Collinson emphasized that if Trump hopes to fulfill his key campaign promises, he will need to find a way to restore order. “Even if that draws him into conflict with base voters and MAGA ideologues who seem happy to burn government to the ground,” he wrote.
A key factor in the chaos is Musk, who has shown his growing influence over U.S. politics. On Wednesday, Musk tweeted that any Republican who voted for Johnson’s plan should lose their seat, which many saw as the final blow to the spending bill. Collinson referred to Musk as “the mega disruptor” and described his approach as one of blowing things up and revising repeatedly.
Musk’s influence has raised concerns, as Democrats worry about his role in shaping policy. New York Rep. Dan Goldman even suggested that Musk, rather than Trump, is now calling the shots in Washington.
