Elon Musk visits Capitol Hill

Elon Musk paid a visit to Capitol Hill Wednesday afternoon to chat with senators about energy issues, artificial intelligence and enhancing competitiveness against the Chinese government.

The ally of President Donald Trump and head of the Department of Government Efficiency initiative was seen entering a meeting room on the Senate side of the Capitol complex in something of a surprise appearance to most lawmakers and aides: After overseeing a rapid, unprecedented dismantling of the federal bureaucracy in the first months of the new administration, Musk has recently begun to step back in his official White House activities.

But Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) said in an interview Musk was there to chat with with them about "AI, issues of energy and other big strategic issues."

"It was a really good discussion," Sullivan continued. "He's got incredible insights on the broader strategic competition and stuff. That's what we were talking about."

Sullivan added that the lawmakers present were "mostly" members of the Senate Commerce Committee.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), another member of the Commerce panel, gave a similar readout.

Following the meeting, from which Musk departed without speaking to reporters, Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz (R-Texas) described it as an opportunity for "Republican members of the Commerce Committee to ask questions ... I try to periodically bring together experts to help inform members of the committee."