Capitol Hill appearance that mixed tech talk with a touch of parenting, Elon Musk showed up to a May 20 meeting with Senate Republicans—his young son perched on his shoulders—to discuss the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and its surging demand for energy.
The billionaire entrepreneur, attending in his role as CEO of xAI (a company he launched in 2023), joined members of the Senate Committee on Commerce to share insights on where AI is headed—and what the U.S. needs to do to keep up. Among the big concerns: America’s lagging energy infrastructure. “We are not building enough new power generation,” said Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who chairs the committee. He pointed out that as AI technology advances, the energy it consumes is accelerating at a pace that could outstrip supply—especially compared to China’s aggressive energy expansion.
Musk’s visit coincides with a high-stakes push in the House to pass a Republican-led reconciliation budget bill. A key feature of that bill? A proposed 10-year freeze on state and local regulations of AI—potentially giving developers like Musk a much freer hand as they race to innovate.
While AI regulation was mentioned during the closed-door meeting, Cruz noted it wasn’t a main focus. Instead, the conversation largely revolved around energy strategy, national competitiveness, and getting the facts straight from experts like Musk. “I meet and talk with Elon regularly,” Cruz said, highlighting Musk’s role as an informal adviser on tech-related challenges.
Also in attendance were GOP senators Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia and Dan Sullivan of Alaska, as Republican leaders look for input on how to balance economic growth, energy security, and technological leadership.
Musk made it clear he’s stepping back from political donations for now, telling the Qatar Economic Forum the day before, “I do not currently see a reason.” He added that while he continues to offer policy advice through initiatives like the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), it’s ultimately up to President Trump and others to act on it. “I don’t have formal power,” Musk said. “The president can choose to accept my advice or not.”
Interestingly, his reduced political involvement comes at a time when his electric vehicle company, Tesla, is starting to recover from a rocky financial period. Since Musk began distancing himself from DOGE and broader government advisory roles, Tesla stock has seen a modest rebound, climbing back from its dramatic highs at the end of 2024.
This Capitol visit underscores a growing urgency among Republicans to navigate the future of AI wisely—balancing innovation with infrastructure, and ambition with accountability.
