When unstoppable ego met immovable megalomaniac: Trump-Musk breakup in 4 Acts

India Today

06-06-2025

It officially began with a presidential shoutout, a public anointing of a tech mogul into the powerful Washington circle of power and politics. Less than six months ago, during his inaugural address on January 20, 2025, the newly sworn-in 47th President of the United States, Donald J Trump, hailed Elon Musk as a "super genius" and a 'star.'The billionaire, fresh off a $100 million spending spree to return Trump to the White House, was not just an ally; he was, in Trump's world, family. He had been there at Mar-a-Lago on election night, his young son X on his shoulders, posing with the triumphant Trump clan for a photo Kai Trump captioned, "The whole squad."
advertisementMusk himself posted a picture with the President-elect under the Latin phrase, "Novus Ordo Seclorum" — a new order of the ages.
But the new order, it turns out, had a tragically short shelf life.By the first week of June, the bromance had detonated in a spectacular public display of bile and betrayal. The unstoppable ego of the world's richest man had finally slammed into the immovable megalomania of the world's most powerful.The ensuing wreckage was a political and financial bloodbath, a saga of two titans whose alliance, forged in mutual ambition, was destined to collapse under the weight of their own colossal self-regard.Here's how the much-talked-about Trump-Musk bond dissolved into one of the most public, petty, and politically consequential breakups in American history.ACT I: THE KINGMAKER AND HIS KINGadvertisementThe seeds of this grand alliance were sown in the feverish final months of the 2024 campaign. While he couldn't run for president himself — being a naturalised, not a natural-born, citizen — Elon Musk took on the next best role: kingmaker. He transformed from a tech titan into a political force of nature and left no stone unturned into ensuring Trump's glorious return to power.
File photo shows Elon Musk at a rally for Trump at Madison Square Garden in New York on October 27, 2024. (AFP photo)
In a school auditorium in suburban Philadelphia, he took the stage to the strains of Brooks & Dunn's 'Only in America,' declaring the "future of America" and "civilisation itself" was at stake. At a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, he donned a black 'Make America Great Again' hat, branding himself "not just MAGA, I'm dark MAGA."This was not just a financial backing; it was a total ideological merger. As one report from The Atlantic presciently noted, "Musk is the one poised to live out the ultimate techno-authoritarian fantasy... His entanglement with Trump will be an Ayn Rand novel sprung to life."advertisementTrump, ever the transactional politician, saw the immense value in his new cheerleader. He was getting the world's richest man, a media-savvy provocateur with 220 million followers on his own social network, X."He's a very smart guy," Trump said in August 2024 when asked about giving Musk a role in his administration. "He's a brilliant guy."Musk quickly became a trusted advisor and frequent companion, notably leaping behind Trump on stage at an October rally.The investment paid off.When Trump secured his victory, Musk was not just a guest at the Mar-a-Lago celebration; he was an honoured courtier, promised a powerful new fiefdom within the administration.Following Trump's election, the tech billionaire stood by him during the oath of office, travelled on Air Force One for weekend visits to Mar-a-Lago, stayed in the Lincoln Bedroom, and attended Cabinet meetings sporting a MAGA hat.ACT II: THE 'TECH SUPPORT' IN WHITE HOUSEThe honeymoon was a televised spectacle. In a joint interview on Fox News in February 2025, the camaraderie was so thick the interviewer called them "two brothers." Musk, ever the showman, wore a T-shirt that read "Tech Support."advertisement"I love the president, I just want to be clear about that," Musk declared, adding with a flourish, "I love the President as much as any straight man could." He spoke of how Trump was "unfairly attacked in the media," a sentiment that was music to the president's ears.Trump, in turn, laid the praise on just as thick. He had appointed Musk to head the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DoGE), a vehicle for Musk's self-proclaimed crusade to slash federal waste."I wanted to find somebody smarter than him," Trump beamed. "I searched all over. I just couldn't do it, I couldn't. I really tried hard. I couldn't find anyone smarter."
Trump and Musk stand next to a Tesla vehicle on the South Portico of the White House on March 11, 2025. (AFP photo)
Musk readily admitted his new role caused friction with his old liberal circles, diagnosing them with "Trump Derangement Syndrome." At a dinner party, he recounted, merely mentioning the president's name was like they "got shot with a dart in the jugular that contained methamphetamine and rabies." He had chosen his side, burning his old bridges with the glee of a convert.advertisementWhen asked about potential conflicts of interest between his government role and his sprawling business empire, both men brushed it aside. "If there's a conflict, he won't be involved," Trump asserted. Musk quickly added, "I have never asked the President for anything."Just three months prior, Trump had publicly demonstrated support for Musk's business by purchasing a Fiery red Tesla.It was a perfect symbiosis. Or so it seemed.ACT III: THE CHAINSAW AND THE FALL FROM GRACEThe first sign of trouble came with a prop. In February, Musk appeared at a conservative gathering wielding a chainsaw engraved with the slogan, 'Viva la libertad, carajo' ('Long live liberty, damn it'), vowing to shred "wasteful and fraud" government spending. The fanboys roared.
Musk holds a chainsaw reading
But some prophecies are self-fulfilling, but in an ironic way.Musk, who had taken on the DOGE role with full fervour, was looking at the exit door in less than six months. His grand promises to drastically shrink the federal government ultimately fell flat. Instead of reshaping Washington, Musk departed with his own stature diminished, his considerable wealth significantly eroded by a restless market.advertisementHis tenure at DoGE was a masterclass in hyperbole over substance. He promised to slash up to $2 trillion in spending; analysts estimated his actual cuts were a fraction of that, around $150 billion, much of it offset by lawsuits from enraged unions and agencies.While Musk was playing politics, his empire was bleeding. Tesla's stock plummeted 33% between December 2024 and May 2025, battered by Chinese competition and protests against his polarising political role. "I think I probably did spend a bit too much time on politics," Musk would later regret in an interview.The ultimate slight, however, was personal. During Trump's diplomatic blitz through the Middle East in May, Musk, who was part of the entourage, found himself sidelined. According to The New York Times, he was visibly upset over a rival AI firm's deal with the UAE.The ultimate indignity came at Qatar's Lusail Palace. "On May 14," the Times reported, "as a crowd of Mr. Trump's wealthy supporters milled inside... Mr. Musk waited along with everyone else in the receiving line to shake Mr. Trump's hand." The "first buddy" was now just another face in the crowd.In May end, Musk exited the administration. He bid farewell to Trump at a somewhat sombre news conference in the Oval Office last week. But the two maintained their 'friendship' till this point.
Trump gifts Musk a
But days later, the stage was set for the final, ugly act.ACT IV: IMMOVABLE OBJECT AND UNSTOPPABLE FORCEThe final blowup came at breathtaking speed. On Tuesday, June 3, Musk began his public assault on Trump's signature domestic policy: a sweeping tax-cut and spending bill. Musk, the supposed champion of efficiency, called it a "disgusting abomination" that would balloon the nation's $36.2 trillion debt.His social media posts amplified a growing rift within the Republican party. For two days, Trump held his tongue.On Thursday, June 5, the dam broke."Look, Elon and I had a great relationship," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, his tone laced with menace. "I don't know if we will anymore." He expressed being "very disappointed" in Musk. He suggested Musk was truly upset about the bill's elimination of EV tax credits and simply missed working for him.'He hasn't said bad about me personally, but I'm sure that will be next,' Trump stated, anticipating the day's events. 'But I'm very disappointed in Elon. I've helped Elon a lot.'Trump contended that Musk's opposition to the bill stemmed from its rollback of electric vehicle tax credits. 'False,' Musk quickly retorted on X as the president continued speaking. 'This bill was never shown to me even once and was passed in the dead of night so fast that almost no one in Congress could even read it!'In a subsequent post, Musk suggested Trump could retain spending cuts but 'ditch the MOUNTAIN of DISGUSTING PORK in the bill.'Beyond the electric vehicle tax credits, Trump noted another point of contention: Musk's promotion of Jared Isaacman to lead NASA. Trump withdrew Isaacman's nomination over the weekend, labelling him 'totally a Democrat' on Thursday.As Trump spoke, Musk's fury erupted on X. "Without me, Trump would have lost the election," he posted. "Such ingratitude."The war was on.From his Truth Social platform, Trump delivered a crushing blow, a threat aimed at the core of Musk's business empire. "The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon's Governmental Subsidies and Contracts," he wrote. 'Go ahead, make my day," Musk quickly responded on X.The market reacted instantly. Tesla's stock plummeted, shedding $150 billion in value in a single day. Musk's personal holdings in Tesla saw a reduction of about $20 billion.Minutes after the closing bell, Musk escalated the feud into a perceived constitutional crisis. When an X user suggested Trump should be impeached, Musk responded with a single, devastating word: "Yes." The tech entrepreneur also shared a social media post advocating for Trump's impeachment and criticised the president's signature tariffs, predicting a recession this year.Musk, whose SpaceX is the sole American provider of astronaut transport to the International Space Station, then threatened to begin decommissioning the Dragon spacecraft. Hours later, Musk announced SpaceX would indeed start phasing out the spacecraft used for NASA astronaut and cargo transport to the International Space Station.He rallied his followers with a poll: "Is it time to create a new political party in America?" And he issued a simple, three-word directive to his followers regarding Trump's legislation: "KILL THE BILL."Musk further alleged, without presenting evidence, that Trump was 'in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!'Trump countered on Truth Social that Musk "went crazy." A White House official, speaking on background, provided the official epitaph for the relationship. "The president is making it clear: this White House is not beholden to Elon Musk on policy," the official stated. "By attacking the bill the way he did, Musk has clearly picked a side."Observers had long speculated whether the friendship between these two brash billionaires, known for their online barbs, would combust dramatically. It did, in less than a year.Trump reiterated in the Oval Office on Thursday that he and Musk had shared a strong relationship, but mused: "I don't know if we will anymore." He also commented that some individuals who depart his administration 'miss it so badly' that they 'actually become hostile.' 'It's sort of Trump derangement syndrome, I guess they call it,' he added. He downplayed the billionaire's efforts to support his election last year, including a voter sweepstakes in Pennsylvania reportedly valued at $1 million per day.The 'love' Musk felt for Trump back in February was clearly over and the breakup was $150 billion deep, televised, tweeted, and very, very real. The red Tesla, a relic of their short-lived alliance, still sat in the White House parking lot, a silent witness to the explosive end of an era, as per an Associated Press report.The fallout calls to mind the chilling words of Joker, the notorious agent of chaos from the DC Universe: "This is what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object."