Elon Musk’s Oval Office address showed why he’s a menacing foe for the federal government and why President Donald Trump is playing with fire by ceding him so much power.

Elon Musk and other allies of Donald Trump lashed out at federal judges on Tuesday who have blocked the president's biggest initiatives, including ending birthright citizenship, in some cases challenging the independence of the judiciary.

But their approach  — which one prominent Democrat characterized as ‘flagrantly violating the law’ — is drawing legal challenges and carries political risks.