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US media reported there could be signs of a truce. But if they don’t make peace, Musk could look for ways to diminish the president’s authority and “seek revenge,” according to a US politics expert.
How did the Trump-Musk bromance break down?
Trump later called Musk “crazy” and insisted he had asked the tycoon to leave because he was “wearing thin”.
Elon Musk and Donald Trump in the Oval Office on 30 May, when the president thanked him for leading the Department of Government Efficiency, which is not an official US federal department. Source: AAP, AP / Evan Vucci
The US president Trump suggested hitting the entrepreneur where it hurts, threatening Musk’s multibillion-dollar government contracts including for launching rockets and for the use of the Starlink satellite service.
He later appeared to walk that back, replying to a user on Twitter: “OK, we won’t decommission Dragon”, though his tone was unclear.
Was the relationship always doomed to fail?
“There were huge contributions that Musk made to Trump’s campaign … it was a phenomenal amount.”
The feud puts about US$22 billion ($34 billion) in government contracts held by Elon Musk’s SpaceX at risk, and multiple United States space programs could also face dramatic changes if the dispute escalates. Source: AAP
It wasn’t surprising the pair had fallen out, according to Hart, who said such disputes are part of a pattern of a Trump presidency.
“And Trump’s ego is so great that that was always going to be difficult.”
A truce? Or an ‘explosive’ retaliation?
Trump may get rid of the red Tesla Model S that he bought in March after showcasing Musk’s electric cars on the White House lawn, a White House official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
US President Donald Trump bought a Model S Tesla in March, telling reporters that he hoped the purchase would boost the electric vehicle company’s declining sales. Credit: Pool via AP
Musk, for his part, has not continued to directly address Trump but kept up his criticism of the massive Republican tax and spending bill that contains much of Trump’s domestic agenda.
Earlier, Musk had signalled a possible détente, writing “you’re not wrong,” in response to billionaire investor Bill Ackman saying Trump and Musk should make peace.
