Time magazine cover depicts 'President Elon Musk'

Time magazine's latest print cover has featured tech magnate Elon Musk seated at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, prompting US President Donald Trump to question the magazine's relevance by jokingly asking, "Is Time's Magazine still in business?"

The cover shows Musk with a coffee cup in hand, and seated on the presidential desk with the American and presidential flags flanked against the backdrop. A plain red backdrop adorns the magazine cover.

Time even wrote a cover story on Friday titled "Inside Elon Musk's War on Washington", highlighting the billionaire's efforts to overhaul the federal government since Trump assumed office on January 20 last month.

Musk, who is heading the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE), aimed at cleaning up the bureaucracy, has come under the scanner for his moves to dismantle agencies like the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of Education.

The story, written by Simon Schuster and Brian Bennett, states that the tech magnate's moves caused "millions of government workers (to) find themselves at Musk’s mercy".

"So far, Musk appears accountable to no one but President Trump, who handed his campaign benefactor a sweeping mandate to bring the government in line with his agenda. DOGE directed all of Time's questions about its work to the White House, which declined to comment," Schuster and Bennett wrote.

Trump was asked about Time's cover featuring Musk and said, "Is Time's magazine still in business? I didn’t even know that."

Earlier in December, Trump rejected rumours about Musk, a South-African born, taking over the presidency, saying "it was not happening" and cited constitutional rules of being born in the country to hold the top post. According to the US Constitution, a person has to be a naturalised American citizen to become the President.

Trump's remarks came at a time when some of his supporters and Democrats have been questioning Musk increasing influence in his administration. However, Trump's office has repeatedly dismissed speculation of Musk calling the shots.