Elon Musk has a lot to lose in Trump brawl: podcast
Follow on Apple or Spotify. Listen on the Reuters app.
The Tesla and SpaceX billionaire boiled over with criticism of the US president after leaving his government cost-slashing role. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists debate the tale of the tape for the bruising bust-up.
Follow Jonathan Guilford on X and Linkedin and Peter Thal Larsen on Bluesky and LinkedIn.
(The hosts are Reuters Breakingviews columnist. The opinions expressed are their own.)
Further Reading
Elon Musk picks a losing fight with Donald Trump
EU's SpaceX rival demands more than financial fuel
Trump and Musk's ally-bullying weakens the West
Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt-out of targeted advertising.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Musk could miss out on major US project thanks to Trump feud
SpaceX 's involvement in the Trump administration's Golden Dome missile project is now uncertain due to Elon Musk 's feud with Donald Trump. SpaceX was initially the frontrunner for the project, potentially earning Musk billions of dollars. Following the public dispute, the Pentagon is now considering other alternatives for the missile shield project. Experts are concerned that political affiliations, rather than technical merits, may influence project decisions. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the Golden Dome project could cost $524 billion and take 20 years to complete.
The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
Trump team weighs shutting out Musk's SpaceX from ‘Golden Dome' project as fallout from feud lingers
The role of Elon Musk's SpaceX in the Trump administration's Golden Dome missile project is reportedly in doubt following the feud between the billionaire and President Donald Trump last week. Musk's company appeared to be the frontrunner to begin work on the ambitious project to create a missile shield over America, a project that would have pocketed Musk billions. But after last week's explosive breakup, which Musk has since attempted some damage control, the project is in jeopardy, three people familiar with plans told Reuters. 'Because of the blowup, the Pentagon has been given the space to look at other alternatives,' one of the people told the news agency. The White House said in a statement that any decision on the project would be made 'prioritizing the best deal for America and leveraging the most advanced and innovative technology.' A spokesperson added that the administration 'is committed to a rigorous review process for all bids and contracts.' A senior Defense Department official told Reuters that the Pentagon 'has no announcements regarding future contracts associated with the Golden Dome effort.' If SpaceX misses out on the project, it would signal the significance of the president's personal relationships when it comes to his leadership, aerospace and defense experts said. 'That people guiding the program or building it are approved based on their political affiliation signals a real concern that the project itself is very politicized and not being conducted on the technical merits,' Laura Grego, a missile defense expert and research director at the non-profit Union of Concerned Scientists, told Reuters. Insiders also told the outlet that there is a lot of uncertainty looming over the project and a 'scramble' among contractors and industry experts. 'There isn't a coordinated effort with a true vision,' an insider told the outlet. 'All of these companies are just grabbing at this pot of money.' The independent Congressional Budget Office has estimated the project could take 20 years to complete and cost $524 billion. After last week's blowup between Trump and Musk, the tech mogul issued a groveling climbdown in the early hours of Wednesday, expressing regret over the public fallout between him and Trump last week. 'I regret some of my posts about President Donald Trump last week. They went too far,' the world's richest man wrote on X. Trump also hinted that reconciliation between the pair was possible. 'Look, I have no hard feelings,' Trump said in the interview recorded on Monday.
The Sun
7 hours ago
- The Sun
Virgin Media customers have just hours to claim FREE Apple iPad worth £439 ‘while stocks last'
VIRGIN Media's offer to new customers of a free £439 Apple gadget for signing up continues, but not for much longer. While the deal was originally thought to end earlier this week, the network provider is giving away space grey 9th Generation iPads, with a storage of 64GB while they still have stock. To receive the iPad, customers need to sign onto an 18-month MegaVolt package, so for those looking to sign up for a new contract or network provider, it's a no-brainer. Although Virgin Media has extended this reward - it isn't going to last long. The £88.99 per month may seem like an eye-watering amount but alongside the iPad, the Megavolt package is also Virgin Media's best service and product. Within the 18 month contract, customers will have access to Netflix standard with ads, Sky Sports HD, and Sky Cinema HD - and consumers can even choose another subscription service for six months. But what exactly is included in the MegaVolt package? - Here are all the need-to-know numbers: First time hearing about this offer? Virgin Media is known for throwing in high-value gadgets and tech freebies with their broadband and TV packages. What's more, the network provider actually began this deal back in March. At present, the company has not confirmed whether the same deal will return later this year. But this is not the only reward that Virgin Media gives away, it also offers a referral scheme for a friend or family member to Virgin Media or VMO2, and by doing so, customers can receive £70 - a £20 boost on the standard £50 referral fee. This is inclusive of both broadband and phone contracts. There are also more changes to the network provider's standalone broadband packages. For an 18-month contract of 125Mbps, customers will only have to pay £25.99 per month - down from £54. From there, prices jump to £36.99 for 1Gbps contracts, but this is far and away a better saving than the standard £78. And for those customers who need even more from their provider, Virgin Media's top package is £69.99 for the first 18 months, after this time the package increases to £84 per month. All prices were correct at the time of writing. Always do your own research before making any purchases.
