What the Trump-Musk feud reveals about American decline
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I refer to 'Trump and Musk feud in real time as bromance implodes in spectacular fashion' (
June 6 ).
The public dispute between
Donald Trump and Elon Musk illustrates the late stage of a declining republic, an America that is increasingly dominated by billionaires rather than elected officials.
The two ostensibly fell out over US President Trump's
'big beautiful bill' , a tax plan that billionaire Musk said would increase the US federal deficit. But Trump said Musk was just outraged that the bill is scrapping tax credits for electric vehicles, a move projected to cost
Tesla , a company heavily reliant on various government programmes, US$1.2 billion.
It is telling that the world's richest man, who is so indebted to US taxpayers, can decry a system he has gamed masterfully the moment he is inconvenienced.
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