Bromance Is Dead: Splitsville for Besties Trump and Musk
The male loneliness epidemic has struck once again, with tech oligarch Elon Musk and President Donald J. Trump going their separate ways after a roughly year-long friendship based on unprecedented political spending and mutual corruption. C'est la vie, n'est pas?
Supposedly, the cause of this bromance breakdown was the 'big, beautiful' tax bill Trump is looking to push through Congress, which Musk has complained — accurately, for once — will increase the national deficit by trillions. But longtime observers of the former 'First Buddy' and the commander-in-chief have always suspected that their political alliance wasn't built to last. Two erratic, vindictive, spotlight-hungry billionaires convinced of their own greatness occupying the White House together? Far more efficient to have just one.
More from Rolling Stone
Trump and His Team Tease Vengeance Against Elon as Feud Goes Nuclear
Trump-Musk Feud Explodes as Elon Alleges Trump Is in Epstein Files
The Centrist WelcomeFest Was Everything That's Wrong With the Democratic Party
To that end, Musk last week stepped down from his role as the de facto head of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, which had accomplished its goals of arbitrarily firing thousands of government employees and killing hundreds of thousands of children abroad by freezing international aid. Appearing in the Oval Office with a black eye that he claimed was the result of his five-year-old son punching him in the face, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO received a chintzy decorative gold key for his efforts, with Trump promising that Musk was 'not really leaving' the administration and would continue to advise from afar while tending to his neglected business empire.
Alas, for all that awkward theater of mutual respect, by the following Thursday the pair were beefing like Bravo TV stars after a few bottles of chardonnay. Trump told the press that he was 'very disappointed' in Musk for criticizing the tax bill and suggested the oligarch was suffering from 'Trump Derangement Syndrome,' then Musk posted on X that he deserved the credit for Trump winning the 2024 election, bemoaning the president's 'ingratitude.' Trump fired back on Truth Social that he'd gotten sick of Musk and told him to leave, and suggested the government could cut spending by canceling his companies' federal contracts, which are worth billions. By this point, Tesla stock had plummeted about 15 percent, and Musk was ready to go thermonuclear. After he mused on X about creating 'a new political party in America,' he announced, 'Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public.' The feud had officially turned into 'Drake vs. Kendrick for Republicans,' as one X user put it.
This is not the first time Musk has angrily smeared someone as a pedophile, and odds are, it won't be the last. While the Epstein 'files' as right-wing conspiracists describe them are essentially a figment of their imagination (the administration's pretense of disclosing explosive new information about the late financier Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking operation has yielded humiliating failures), Trump's years of close association with Epstein are so well-documented that it's a wonder Musk believed anyone might be surprised at this accusation. Yet the substance of this attack is almost beside the point: Musk was more than happy to spend a quarter of a billion dollars to help elect a man he apparently regards as a sex offender when he stood to benefit — the post merely signaled a point of no return with respect to their diplomacy.
Liberals and leftists contemptuous of both Trump and Musk cheered the open hostilities as an entertaining bloodsport, with one comedian declaring it 'our two dumb motherfuckers fighting day' in a meme edit of the climactic speech from Independence Day. On the other side, Fox News host Jesse Watters was left looking for ways to cope, insisting that the two were 'blowing off steam' and speculating that they could 'patch things up,' seeing as J.D. Vance once compared Trump to Hitler and still wound up his vice president. Conservatives quickly began taking sides, with fiscal hawks backing Musk and Trump loyalists holding their ground.
It was last July, minutes after a failed assassination attempt on Trump during a rally near Butler, Pennsylvania, that Musk first jumped aboard the MAGA bandwagon, bringing other Silicon Valley elites with him. He formed the Super PAC America PAC, channeling their wealth (and his own) into the presidential race, and finally took the stage with Trump in October, where he jumped around as if he were a Kindergartner who had been informed he could have an extra 20 minutes of iPad time. With Trump's victory across all the swing states that America PAC targeted with an legally dubious lottery promotion that triggered multiple lawsuits, Tesla shares soared, and Musk became the highest-profile member of Trump's inner circle — to the profound annoyance of those who had been there first. Following the inauguration, he spun up DOGE, tanking his image and his brands with a reckless and destructive assault on the administrative state that involved settling scores with regulators. Trump, in his boundless sympathy, staged a Tesla demo in the White House driveway in an effort to prop up his pal's struggling automaker, though he still aimed to end electric vehicle tax credits.
Of course, Musk's affection for Trump was always contingent. In 2022, he argued that Trump should 'sail into the sunset' rather than run for the GOP presidential nomination once more, prompting Trump to blast his 'driverless cars that crash' and 'rocketships to nowhere.' He had initially backed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the 2024 primary contest. In the end, however, Trump was his best hope for thwarting an array of government probes into his corporations.
Now, as that arrangement of convenience implodes, everything seems to be on the table. Musk is in favor of impeaching Trump and replacing him with Vance, who is intimately connected in the world of tech and venture capital. He's also threatening to decommission the SpaceX cargo ships that resupply the International Space Station. Meanwhile, Trumpworld influencers including Steve Bannon are calling for Musk to lose his security clearances, face investigation for drug use, and be deported as an illegal immigrant. Even if none of that happens, Musk is suddenly more exposed to federal enforcement actions, like an ongoing Securities and Exchange Commission civil suit over his purchase of X back when it was Twitter (and noticeably lighter on Nazi content).
Surely this rift was a foregone conclusion — as inevitable as the fact that it's playing out in trollish statements on social media from guys who throw tantrums at the slightest pushback. The whole thing might be an embarrassment to the nation, but it's also about as American as it gets.
Best of Rolling Stone
Every Super Bowl Halftime Show, Ranked From Worst to Best
The United States of Weed
Gaming Levels Up
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
What the Trump-Musk Feud Means for SpaceX and NASA
The U.S. government relies on SpaceX to support NASA and other agencies, and the company has received more $20 billion in federal contracts for it. As Musk and Trump threaten to cut ties, here's what that would mean for the U.S.'s space ambitions.
Yahoo
33 minutes ago
- Yahoo
DHS wants National Guard to search for and transport unaccompanied migrant children
A Department of Homeland Security request for 21,000 National Guard troops to support "expansive interior immigration enforcement operations" includes a call for troops to search for unaccompanied children in some cases and transport them between states, three sources briefed on the plan tell NBC News. Having National Guard troops perform such tasks, which are not explained in detail in the DHS request, has prompted concern among Democrats in Congress and some military and law enforcement officials. The tasks are laid out in a May 9th Request for Assistance from the Department of Homeland Security to the Pentagon. The document states that, 'this represents the first formal request by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for the deployment of National Guard personnel in support of interior immigration enforcement operations.' The request calls for National Guard troops to be used for 'Search and Rescue for UACs [Unaccompanied Alien Children] in remote or hostile terrain,' and 'Intra- and inter-state transport of detainees/ unaccompanied alien children (UACs)," without clearly explaining what that would entail. Most of the troops, about 10,000, would be used for transporting detained individuals, the DHS said. Roughly 2,500 troops would be used for detention support but the document does not specify where. Another 1,000 troops would be assigned to administrative support, such as processing detainees. The request also asks for up to 3,500 troops to 'Attempt to Locate — Fugitives' and to conduct 'surveillance and canvassing missions,' as well as 'night operations and rural interdictions.' It also asks for support for ICE in 'joint task force operations for absconder/fugitive tracking,' according to the three sources familiar with the plans. NPR first reported the details of the DHS request. Democrats in Congress and military and law enforcement officials have expressed concern about the use of National Guard troops to perform what they say are civilian law enforcement duties. One characterized the plan as the Trump administration 'finding a way to get the National Guard into the streets and into American homes,' saying, 'I fear it's going to look like a police state.' A second source said, 'Trump has said he wants to use the National Guard for law enforcement, and the Pentagon and other entities have always said, 'Oh, don't worry, it will never come to that.' But this is it.' Defense officials say the request has not been approved and is being evaluated by Pentagon policy officials, the General Counsel's office, and other Pentagon leadership. The officials say the most likely course of action would be for some parts of the request to be approved and others rejected. But one source briefed on the plans said that Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth is close to approving some elements of the request and considering which state governors to approach first regarding National Guard units. 'We are so much closer to this being real,' said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. DHS is requesting the National Guard troops under Title 32 status, which means they would remain on state active duty under the command of their governor but would be federally funded. Title 32 status generally allows National Guard troops to conduct law enforcement activities without violating the Posse Comitatus Act, an 1878 law that bars the use of federal troops in law enforcement operations. A National Guard member who opposes troops performing such tasks told NBC News, 'I plan to leave the National Guard soon over this.' The Pentagon is also being asked by DHS to pay the full cost of deploying the 21,000 National Guard troops. That comes amid growing tension between the Pentagon and DHS over the cost of border and other immigrant-related operations. The DHS request for National Guard troops arrives when the Pentagon is already footing a $23-million-a-month bill to hold as many as 2,500 undocumented immigrants in a military facility in Texas. Defense officials say they are frustrated that the camp is holding far fewer individuals than they were told to expect and they would like a reprieve. The Defense Department is in a contract with the DHS to help support DHS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, officers who are under pressure from Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller to arrest 3,000 undocumented immigrants a day. But it has been slow going for ICE agents, resulting in fewer arrests of undocumented immigrants across the country. That has resulted in many empty beds at facilities like the one in El Paso, owned and operated by the Defense Department. Military officials say the facility has been holding an average of 150 undocumented immigrants each day over the last several weeks — a fraction of its 2,500 beds. On one recent day, they said, the facility housed fewer than 80 people. Pentagon officials are asking to cut the number of beds in the facility from 2,500 to about 1,000, which they say would save $12 million per month. It is not clear if the DHS request for National Guard troops will increase the need for beds in the El Paso facility. The DHS request also comes as the Pentagon is struggling to fund critical projects to support U.S. troops. 'Congress is aware that the department is redirecting funds from existing military construction projects like barracks improvements for lower enlisted personnel and longstanding infrastructure projects elsewhere in the world in favor of southwest border missions,' a Senate aide who spoke on condition of anonymity told NBC News. 'They are pretty frustrated with the way that the department is ordering them to support DHS out of their own pockets for a grossly disproportionate cost compared to what ICE facilities would cost the government,' added the aide, referring to military officials. Last month, the Pentagon notified Congress that it planned to transfer more than $1.74 million in the current DOD budget to the southwest border mission, as step that will take money away from renovating barracks and base facilities. Service member advocacy groups have criticized the move. Rob Evans, the founder of Hots&Cots, where services members can post reviews of barracks, dining areas and other facilities, says he sees evidence daily of barracks with sewage leaks, mold, failing HVAC systems, and more. 'When funding is pulled from this line, troops pay the price in real ways: delayed repairs, worsening conditions, and a growing sense that their well-being comes second to optics and operations,' Evans said. 'Service members deserve clean, safe, and dignified living conditions. They've earned at least that much.' This article was originally published on
Yahoo
33 minutes ago
- Yahoo
The Tesla share price could skyrocket next week!
The Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) share price is quite frankly hard to keep track of. One moment its down near $220, the next it's pushing towards $400. However, next week could be a big week for the company. The stock's valuation hinges not on electric vehicles (EVs), but its potential leadership in the autonomous driving space. As such, Tesla's upcoming robotaxi launch in Austin, Texas, set for 12 June, has reignited debate over the company's sky-high valuation and the potential for dramatic share price swings in the coming week. The move marks Tesla's long-awaited entry into the autonomous ride-hailing market. With rivals like Waymo, Zoox, and Avride already operating in the city's tech-friendly environment, Tesla may be in danger of falling behind. At the heart of any discussion about Tesla — or any stock — is valuation. Tesla's current and forward multiples remain among the highest in the consumer discretionary sector. The company's forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio stands at 180.4 times, nearly 1,000% above the sector median of 16.4 times, and even higher than its own five-year average of 115.1 times. The forward price-to-earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio is 8.6. That's more than four times the sector median — and remember some of these other companies will pay a dividend. This tells us that even with projected earnings growth, the stock is expensive by growth investing standards. Meanwhile the price-to-sales (P/S) and enterprise value-to-EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation) ratios tell a similar story. Tesla's forward P/S is 11.31 (sector median is 0.87), while its forward EV-to-EBITDA is 76.58 (sector median: 9.73). These metrics indicate Tesla is valued not just as a carmaker, but as a tech company with enormous anticipated future profits. The market's optimism, or overoptimism, is rooted in the robotaxi story. Tesla aims to dominate in the sector by quickly scaling its robotaxi operations globally. In theory, it's a high-margin business with strong recurring revenues. This would fundamentally alter the company's earnings profile. However, this optimism is highly speculative and contingent on overcoming significant technical, regulatory, and competitive hurdles. And that's why it's so important that Tesla impresses with its launch next week. There's also the Optimus robot. This is Tesla's humanoid robot, which like the robotaxi venture, is built around developments in artificial intelligence (AI). Optimus could also be game changing. Despite the possibilities, Tesla's valuation leaves little margin for error. And this risk is compounded by the competitive landscape in Austin. Waymo, especially, already established a presence, and its technology relies on different approaches — such as lidar and radar — compared to Tesla's camera-based system. And while Elon Musk touts Tesla's approach as more scalable and cost-effective, the company has a history of missing self-imposed deadlines on autonomy, which could test investor patience if the rollout stumbles. Personally, I want to see Tesla do well. I want companies to succeed and push the boundaries of technology. However, I believe Tesla's execution risk is considerable and the valuation hard to justify. That's why I'm watching from the sidelines. The post The Tesla share price could skyrocket next week! appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. More reading 5 Stocks For Trying To Build Wealth After 50 One Top Growth Stock from the Motley Fool James Fox has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Tesla. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. Motley Fool UK 2025 Sign in to access your portfolio
