These are challenging days for Democrats ahead of Donald Trump’s return to the White House. Their party has yet to land on a clear message or a leading messenger, leaving the president-elect mostly unchallenged,

Shortly after Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis formed a group called Governors Safeguarding Democracy to “fortify democratic institutions in the states and ensure the rule of law serves all people,” according to the group’s website.

Representative Pramila Jayapal said that Democrats "forced" Trump and Musk "to back down from the 11th hour demand to pass a suspension of the debt ceiling."

Elon Musk says comments of “President Musk” is part of a media conspiracy to “drive a wedge between” him and Donald Trump, but he hasn’t outright rejected his new moniker. Comments about Musk’s political influence rolled in after he went on a posting spree Wednesday to threaten GOP lawmakers with retribution if they didn’t reject a stopgap budget he felt had too wide of a scope.

Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) on Thursday suggested Elon Musk is the one directing the Trump administration, not President-elect Trump, pointing to the tech entrepreneur’s leading position in opposing the government funding stopgap measure.

Critics have highlighted what they see as the tech mogul's huge influence over Congress and the president-elect.

This holiday season could come with the legislative equivalent of getting coal in your stocking – a government shutdown. Already, a bill aimed at avoiding this fate was rejected by lawmakers.