logo
ENع
JD Vance Tells Theo Von Musk Made A 'Huge Mistake' Going After Trump

JD Vance Tells Theo Von Musk Made A 'Huge Mistake' Going After Trump

Yahoo8 hours ago

Vice President JD Vance said Elon Musk made a critical error attacking President Donald Trump and his so-called Big Beautiful Bill.
'I think it's a huge mistake for him to go after the president like that,' Vance told podcaster and comedian Theo Von in an interview released Friday. 'I think that if he and the president are in some blood feud, most importantly it's going to be bad for the country, but I don't think it's going to be good for Elon, either.'
The two were taping an episode of Von's podcast, 'This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von,' as Trump and Musk publicly traded barbs on Thursday.
As Vance and Von spoke, Musk shared a post to X, formerly Twitter, accusing Trump of holding off on the release of files about late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein due to Trump being mentioned in them.
'The fucking shit-missile is in the cannon,' Von said, before reading the post aloud to Vance.
Vance acknowledged his loyalties would always be with Trump and defended the president against Musk's accusations, saying Trump never did 'anything wrong' with Epstein. Vance praised Musk's work with the Department of Government Efficiency and suggested Musk could just be lashing out due to frustration with the political process.
'I hope that eventually Elon kind of comes back into the fold,' Vance said. 'Maybe that's not possible now, because he's gone so nuclear.'
Vance said it's unfair for Musk to go after Trump for the Big Beautiful Bill — arguing it's good but not perfect — and that Congress made the bill, not Trump.
'I just think it's a huge mistake for the world's wealthiest man, I think one of the most transformational entrepreneurs ever, to be at this war with the world's most powerful man, who I think is doing more to save the country than anybody— and I'm 40 years old — anybody in my lifetime,' Vance added.
Vance also addressed a post in which Musk suggested Trump should be impeached and replaced with Vance, calling it 'totally insane.'
Vance wasn't the only Trump administration official to learn of Musk's feud with the president while taping a podcast. FBI Director Kash Patel was taping a podcast with Joe Rogan when Musk sent the Epstein post, prompting the podcast host to exclaim, 'Jesus Christ, that's a crazy thing to say.'
'I'm just staying out of the Trump-Elon thing, that's way outside my lane,' Patel said. 'I know my lane, and that ain't it.'

Hashtags

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

4 Social Security changes Washington could make to prevent benefit cuts
4 Social Security changes Washington could make to prevent benefit cuts

USA Today

time30 minutes ago

  • USA Today

4 Social Security changes Washington could make to prevent benefit cuts

4 Social Security changes Washington could make to prevent benefit cuts Show Caption Hide Caption Biden criticizes Trump administration's handling of Social Security Social Security overhaul sparks criticism from Biden over service disruptions, layoffs and automation as Trump defends changes as efficiency. Straight Arrow News Social Security is an important source of income for millions of Americans, but the program has a serious financial problem. Costs have increased faster than revenues in recent years because the aging population is growing more quickly than the working population. As a result, the trust fund, the financial account that pays benefits, is on track to be depleted within a decade. Specifically, the Congressional Budget Office estimates the trust fund will be exhausted in 2034. That would eliminate one source of revenue (i.e., interest earned on trust fund reserves), and the remaining tax revenues would only cover 77% of scheduled payments. That means a 23% benefit cut would be necessary in 2035. Fortunately, the lawmakers in Washington have several years to find a better solution. Here are four Social Security changes that could prevent deep, across-the-board benefit cuts. 1. Apply the Social Security payroll tax to income above $400,000 Social Security is primarily funded by a dedicated payroll tax, which takes 6.2% of wages from workers and employers. But some income is exempt from the payroll tax. Specifically, the maximum taxable earnings limit is $176,100 in 2025. Income above that threshold is not taxed by Social Security. Importantly, the Social Security program is projected to run a $23 trillion deficit over the next 75 years as it's strained by shifting demographics. But the deficit could be slashed by applying the payroll tax to more income. For instance, including income above $400,000 would eliminate 60% of the 75-year funding shortfall, says the University of Maryland. 2. Gradually increase the Social Security payroll tax rate to 6.5% over six years Under current law, the Social Security payroll tax rate is 6.2% for workers and their employers. But gradually raising that figure would eliminate a portion of the long-term deficit. For example, increasing thetax rate by 0.05% annually over a six-year period would eliminate 15% of the 75-year funding shortfall, according to the University of Maryland. Now that I've discussed two possible changes, let's step back and look at the big picture. There are basically three ways to resolve Social Security's financial problems: (1) increase revenue, (2) reduce costs or (3) some combination of the first two options. The changes discussed so far would increase revenue, but the next two changes would cut benefits. However, they are more subtle cuts than the 23% across-the-board reduction that would follow trust fund depletion. 3. Gradually increase full retirement age to 68 by 2033 Workers are eligible for retirement benefits at age 62, but they are not entitled to their full benefit — also called the primary insurance amount (PIA) — until full retirement age (FRA). Anyone that claims before full retirement age receives a smaller payout, meaning they get less than 100% of their PIA. FRA is currently defined as 67 years old for workers born in 1960 or later, but raising the figure would reduce the long-term deficit. For instance, increasing FRA to 68 years old by 2033, meaning it would apply to workers born in 1965 or later, would eliminate 15% of the 75-year funding shortfall, according to the University of Maryland. 4. Reduce benefits for retired workers with income in the top 20% Social Security benefits are determined as percentages of two bend points. Specifically, income from the 35 highest-paid years of work is adjusted for inflation and converted to a monthly figure called the average indexed monthly earnings (AIME) amount. The AIME is then run through a formula that uses two bend points to determine the PIA for each worker. Modifying the second (highest) bend point would eliminate a portion of the long-term deficit by reducing benefits for high earners. For instance, the University of Maryland estimates that reducing benefits for individuals with income in the top 20% could reduce the 75-year funding deficit by 11%. Here's the big picture: The four changes I've discussed would eliminate 101% of Social Security's $23 trillion funding shortfall, which would prevent across-the-board benefit cuts in 2035. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The Motley Fool is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news, analysis and commentary designed to help people take control of their financial lives. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook Offer from the Motley Fool: If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets"could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. One easy trick could pay you as much as $23,760 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. JoinStock Advisorto learn more about these strategies. View the "Social Security secrets" »

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store