It's "laughable" for Democrats to complain about tech billionaire Elon Musk's growing influence in politics when they "turned a blind eye" to the actions of President Joe Biden and members of his family, Sen. Markwayne Mullin said Sunday.
"These same Democrats turned a blind eye to the 27 shell companies the Biden family had [and] with companies all over China who were [making] ridiculous payments for access to the president when he was vice president through Hunter Biden," the Oklahoma Republican argued on "Fox News Sunday."
Democrats also "turned a blind eye to an absent cognitive president," while pointing now at President-elect Donald Trump and his consultants, said Mullin.
"I wonder if they really think the American people are that stupid," said Mullin. "People want change and that's what President Trump and the people around him are going to bring to America."
Republicans will continue to listen to Musk or people like him because "you surround yourself with good people and make better choices," he added.
"For [Democrats] saying we will make our decisions based on Elon, we will make informed decisions of what Elon gives us," Mullin said. "If Elon wants to go out and take that personal shot at somebody, he is a private citizen … Elon is someone who works at the front. He doesn't hide where he is at.
"That's why he's been successful, and I really take a hard defense to the Democrats even accusing us. They are the ones that have been corrupt over the last four years. Not Republicans."
He also ridiculed Democrats who are taking a victory lap on the continuing resolution that was passed Friday night to keep the government open.
"They went from a 1,572-page document that was full of pork down to a 117-page document because President Trump weighed in," said Mullin. "You had Biden who was completely absent, and you have the incoming 47th president and former 45th president who is already taking the role as president … the success goes to President Trump, and I appreciate him acting like the president since our former president is already missing in action."