And so, in the end, it was the big, beautiful bill that prompted the big, beautiful bust up almost everyone knew was coming.
Ever since the Trump and Musk alliance was formed almost a year ago, megalomaniac watchers the world over have been asking when and how it would end.
Now we have our answer; 137 days into Trump’s presidency and with the fire powered ferocity of one of Musk’s rocket launches.
At times, it felt voyeuristic to watch, the kind of rubbernecking that takes place with the ugliest of celebrity breakups. It’s a Brangelina inside the beltway, but with implications far beyond it.
Because Musk was as close to the president as anyone outside his own family. He spent weekends living at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home, his mum attended parties there, his son wiped his bogies on the resolute desk. But like so many domestic disputes, it got very messy, very quickly.
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As always when Trump has something to say, he waits for the inevitable question. It came immediately after his meeting inside the Oval Office with German Chancellor Freidrich Merz. A journalist asked about Musk’s criticism of his “big, beautiful” bill.
Trump saw his opening. “I’ve always liked Elon. I’d rather have him criticise me than the bill,” he said, quickly noting that he and Musk had a great relationship. “I don’t know if we will anymore,” he added.
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Less than half an hour later, a post on X by Musk made it very apparent that they would, indeed, no longer have a great relationship.
“Without me, Trump would have lost the election,” he wrote. It was a torpedo that unleashed an, at times, unhinged back and forth including an unfounded allegation from Musk about Trump being part of the “Epstein files.”
Just a week after Trump presented Musk with a golden key in a grand farewell, Musk was burning the house down.
But this break up will affect everyone involved, not to mention the American public. Brand Trump will be damaged by the loss of Musk’s endorsement and loyalty.
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Republican politicians will be wary of angering Musk by voting for Trump’s spending bill. The world’s richest man has shown he is willing to put his money on the line in election races and the midterms are looming.
The government’s reliance on Musk’s companies is also huge. Space X is the key player in space exploration and Musk has been providing invaluable advice to the White House on artificial intelligence and electric vehicles. What will now happen to the Department of Government efficiency?
Meanwhile shares are down significantly at all of Musk’s companies with Trump likely to seek vengeance. There could also be an investigation, now, into allegations that Musk’s drug use while in government was out of control.
There are so many unknowns and one certainty – there are no winners here, apart from the comedians who trade in jokes about this pair of impulsive billionaires.
