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The Guardian
2 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Oval and out: Musk and Trump's farewell marred by disillusionment
Another day, another made-for-great-television encounter between Donald Trump and the media in the Oval Office. The president, quite perversely, prides himself on the access he grants to a group of professionals he has routinely denounced as the 'fake news' and 'enemies of the people' – although any pain suffered from doing so has been eased by widening the net to include formerly fringe rightwing news organizations, who have responded in kind by lobbing friendly questions. But Friday's was no ordinary presidential briefing. That was clear when Trump acknowledged – surely uniquely – that it wasn't even primarily about him. 'Today, it's about a man named Elon,' he intoned, referring to Elon Musk, the tech billionaire who spent $275m of his own money to help Trump win November's election and return to the White House. Yes, the Special One – as in 'special government employee' – was leaving after 138 days at the heart of Trump's administration. He had spearheaded the purportedly cost-slashing 'department of government efficiency,' or Doge; boasted of feeding entire federal agencies 'to the wood chipper' fought with cabinet secretaries; publicly paraded with a chainsaw; terrorised federal workers; and generally fomented mayhem within the governing bureaucracy. All in the name of rooting out 'waste, fraud and abuse' – boldly forecasting in advance that he would be able to find $2tn worth of it. He had fallen well short of that target, and his popularity plummeted amid widespread resentment over his interference in the US government process. With that, the stock of his business empire, principally his electric vehicle firm, Tesla, had fallen too. So Musk – weeks ago seemingly ubiquitous and all-powerful – was not exactly going out on a high. The unaccustomed shadow of failure stalked him. Disillusionment did, too, as illustrated by his criticism of his Trump's Big Beautiful bill, which he warned would undermine Doge's cost-cutting endeavours. Still, the president was generous. 'He's one of the greatest business leaders and innovators the world has ever produced,' he said, as Musk – wearing a black baseball cap – stood beside the resolute desk. 'He stepped forward to put his very great talents into the service of our nation, and we appreciate it.' But apparently not everybody. For some people had been gossiping about Musk – and had snitched to the New York Times. Hopes that he would be afforded a graceful exit from the political arena were somewhat dashed when the Old Grey Lady of American journalism disclosed Friday that his illicit drug intake was much more widespread than previously known. The paper reported he used ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms, substances whose effects on political judgment have not been hitherto explored. He was also said to have imbibed so much ketamine – a drug prescribed for depression – that it affected his bladder. Predictably, the report was the first question raised by the media. And, clearly primed, Musk decided that the best form of defence was to take the piss, so to speak – out of the source. 'The New York Times? Is that the same publication that got a Pulitzer prize for false reporting on the Russiagate?' he said, in a delivery that bore the hallmarks of being pre-rehearsed – and perhaps coached by Trump himself, as it reprised one of his favoured gripes against the 'fake news'. 'I think it is. That New York Times? Let's move on.' And move on things did – before anyone realised that Musk had failed to address, or deny, any of the revelations in the Times' report. Trump reclaimed his accustomed place centre-stage for a bit – riffing, in part, on Emmanuel Macron, the French president who had been in the news after his wife apparently shoved him as he was about to disembark from a plane on a visit to Vietnam. 'Do you have world leader-to-world leader marital advice?' the thrice-married and twice-divorced US president was asked, cast in the unlikely role of marriage guidance counsellor. Trump replied, 'Make sure the door remains closed,' before revealing, intriguingly, 'No, I spoke to him and he's fine. They're two really good people I know very well. And I don't know what that was all about.' Then somebody asked what had been, until then, an elephant in the room question: Elon appeared to have a black eye. 'What happened to you?' asked a reporter. Given the popular anger against Musk's imperious mien recently, there could have been any number of potential culprits: enemies in Maga-world, who have come to include Steve Bannon and Laura Loomer; a disaffected cabinet secretary taking exception to being insulted; perhaps even the disaffected mother of one of the billionaire's numerous children as he has embarked on a one-man baby boom enterprise. But Musk gave the most prosaic of explanations. The bruise had happened in a bout of horseplay with his five-year-old son, X Æ A-12 – who has accompanied him on previous visits to the White House but was, perhaps fortunately, absent this time. 'I was just messing around with X and I said, 'Go ahead, punch me I'm the face,' and he did. Turns out, even a five-year-old punching you in the face – actually, if you knew X. 'I didn't really feel much at the time and then, I guess, it really bruises up.' It seemed perfect as a metaphor for his reputation – and perhaps his psyche – as he prepared to leave Washington. Moments later – after Trump expounded on the alleged criminal havoc perpetrated by his favourite scapegoats, undocumented immigrants – Musk offered his take on the 'fundamental moral flaw' of the left, a political grouping which once feted him but now holds him in contempt. 'Empathy for the criminals, but not empathy for the victims,' said the man who previously told podcaster Joe Rogan that empathy was the 'fundamental weakness of western civilization' and open to exploitation. As he spoke, it was hard to avoid the impression that among those he considered victims was himself.
News18
4 days ago
- Sport
- News18
'Naughty' Jose Mourinho Cheekily Admits He Wanted Inter Milan To NOT Win The Treble
Last Updated: The 'Special One' also remains the only coach to win a treble with an Italian club: a feat he wishes to hold on to. The Special One wishes to remain the same for eternity, as Jose Mourinho cheekily admitted that he was rooting against his beloved Inter Milan winning a treble, a feat he endearingly calls his own. Jose Mourinho is still the most recent coach to win the Champions League with an Italian club, dating back to the 2009-10 season, when the Nerazzurri beat Bayern Munich in the final at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Special One also remains the only coach to win a treble with an Italian club: enough reason for the ever-so-cheeky manager to joke about how he did not want Inter to win the treble. 🇵🇹🗣️ Jose Mourinho: 'I'm going to be very naughty, but very honest… I was worried Inter could win the treble. I didn't want them to win the treble. The treble is mine." 😂🏆 — EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) May 29, 2025 'I'm going to be very naughty but very honest. I was worried they could win the treble. Because I don't want them to win the treble. It is mine," Mourinho stated jokingly to Sky Sports. 'But now that they've lost both the Championship (Serie A) and the Coppa Italia, I would love them to win the Champions League." It has not been a cakewalk to the final for Inter's rivals, PSG, who started their Champions League campaign with three losses on the trot, including a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal, but persisted. Hence, Mourinho made sure that he gave their boss, Luis Enrique, his flowers, commending the Spaniard on the incredible job he's done to assemble a dazzling Paris side that has been seemingly unstoppable in the latter stages of the competition and to guide them all the way to the final. 'On the other hand, Luis Enrique is doing an amazing job in Paris; he's completely transformed the team," Mourinho lauded the PSG boss. They lost their number one player, yet managed a remarkable rebuild. So if Luis wins, I'll be happy for him too." PSG will now face Inter Milan in the final in Munich on May 31 after an extraordinary run in the competition, which culminated in the Nerazzurri ousting Enrique's beloved Barcelona in a tie that ended 7-6. It will be PSG's second Champions League final, five years after they lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich in Lisbon, in their hunt for their first-ever UCL trophy. First Published:
The Sun
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
‘Crying One' Jose Mourinho taunted with sick coffin stunt as Galatasaray fans celebrate clinching Turkish league title
GALATASARAY taunted Jose Mourinho as the "Crying One" - with coffins for their tearful rival. The Turkish giants wrapped up the Super Lig title on Sunday with a 3-0 win over Kayserispor. 8 8 8 8 Goalkeeper Fernando Muslera even got on the scoresheet with a late penalty. That put them eight points clear at the top of the table with two rounds of matches remaining. And not only did it secure the club a 25th league title - it also consigned their nemesis Fenerbahce to second for the fourth season running. So when the celebrations unfolded on the streets of Istanbul, Galatasaray supporters wasted no time in mocking so-called Special One Mourinho. A group of fans created a coffin which they decked out in the blue and yellow colours of their rivals Fenerbahce. It was then decorated with pictures of Mourinho crying while others held up posters taking brutal swipes at him, too That was just a fraction of their gloating, though. Galatasaray fans also unveiled a banner inside their stadium of Mourinho with the words: "The Most Expensive Influencer In The World." The club's official social media accounts got involved, too. They posted a video of a laptop set up beside the pitch in injury time of yesterday's win with "The Real One" and five stars in gold against a red background - marking their achievement as the only Turkish team with 25 league titles. Jose Mourinho booked after putting his laptop in front of TV camera to highlight referee's wrong decision That was a dig at Mourinho who famously showed a replay of a controversial decision on a club laptop to a TV camera beside the dugout in September. Another Galatasaray post concluded with a bookcase laughing at Mourinho, with a mock-up book of the iconic manager entitled "The Crying One". And a bizarre AI video Back To The Future video showed Marty McFly and Doc as Galatasaray fans revelling in the misery of Fenerbahce's disappointment. Mourinho's ongoing feud with Galatasaray during his time in Turkey came to a head in April. After suffering defeat in the Turkish Cup, the ex-Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham boss PINCHED the nose of his opposite number Okan Buruk, who fell to the pitch in dramatic scenes. Mourinho, though, may not get the chance for revenge next season as he continues to be linked with a return to the Premier League. He is high on the bookmakers' odds for a shock Manchester United comeback but could replace Daniel Farke at Leeds. 8 8 8 8
Daily Record
13-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Jose Mourinho has told Sir Jim Ratcliffe route to Man Utd success as return talk ramps up
Jose Mourinho has previously claimed that the manager at Manchester United needs to be allowed to focus on coaching - not have to involve himself in other aspects of the club. The Special One is among those to try and fail at Old Trafford, but believes the structure was all wrong. Mourinho led the Red Devils for just over two years, but ultimately couldn't make the club English champions once again despite being hired off the back of several title-winning exploits. His best effort was second, when he worked under the Glazers' hierarchy led by Ed Woodward. Things have changed massively since at Old Trafford with Sir Jim Ratcliffe now leading the club's football operations, but fortunes are yet to change. Prior to INEOS coming on board the likes of Mourinho and Louis van Gaal had failed to have the desired impact in Manchester and the Special One insists that too many coaches have been axed for it to be their fault instead pointing the blame elsewhere. He previously told Fabrizio Romano: "Some of them were very good but none of them have been successful or survived for very long. You can't blame all the coaches. The only conclusion is that the environment in which they were working didn't work." Ratcliffe has taken a hands on role with Omar Berrada coming in as CEO. Dan Ashworth has been hired and since fired as the club's sporting director. Jason Wilcox also has a senior role and Mourinho insists whoever is at the helm needs to be allowed to focus on the players and getting results. He said: "I think the ideal scenario is when the club has a structure that allows the coach to be the coach on the pitch, in the training ground, in the dressing room. I was the coach at Inter, at Real Madrid, I was the coach in my first spell at Chelsea. I was the coach at Porto. In other clubs I was not just the coach and that is a very difficult environment to coach." Mourinho finished sixth in his first season with the Manchester outfit, but did deliver the Carabao Cup and the Europa League. Following that he landed second spot, but then saw results nosedive in his third campaign. He is being linked with a sensational return to Manchester as the club weigh up whether Ruben Amorim is the right man to lead them forward. Mourinho has never been shy in laying down what he wants and appear to take a swipe at the amount of roles he's had to take on in some of his previous jobs. "In some club structures, you have to be the coach, you have to be the technical director, you have to be the communication director," he said. "Then you have to be the image that defends the club, the players, that is something people realise but at the same time, it is something the coach doesn't like."
Daily Mirror
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Mourinho has told Ratcliffe route to Man Utd success as return talk ramps up
Jose Mourinho is being linked with a return to Manchester United, where he endured a mixed and frustrating stint as manager, as a new hierarchy consider his return Jose Mourinho has previously claimed that the manager at Manchester United needs to be allowed to focus on coaching - not have to involve himself in other aspects of the club. The Special One is among those to try and fail at Old Trafford, but believes the structure was all wrong. Mourinho led the Red Devils for just over two years, but ultimately couldn't make the club English champions once again despite being hired off the back of several title-winning exploits. His best effort was second, when he worked under the Glazers' hierarchy led by Ed Woodward. Things have changed massively since at Old Trafford with Sir Jim Ratcliffe now leading the club's football operations, but fortunes are yet to change. Prior to INEOS coming on board the likes of Mourinho and Louis van Gaal had failed to have the desired impact in Manchester and the Special One insists that too many coaches have been axed for it to be their fault instead pointing the blame elsewhere. He previously told Fabrizio Romano: "Some of them were very good but none of them have been successful or survived for very long. You can't blame all the coaches. The only conclusion is that the environment in which they were working didn't work." Ratcliffe has taken a hands on role with Omar Berrada coming in as CEO. Dan Ashworth has been hired and since fired as the club's sporting director. Jason Wilcox also has a senior role and Mourinho insists whoever is at the helm needs to be allowed to focus on the players and getting results. He said: "I think the ideal scenario is when the club has a structure that allows the coach to be the coach on the pitch, in the training ground, in the dressing room. I was the coach at Inter, at Real Madrid, I was the coach in my first spell at Chelsea. I was the coach at Porto. In other clubs I was not just the coach and that is a very difficult environment to coach." Mourinho finished sixth in his first season with the Manchester outfit, but did deliver the Carabao Cup and the Europa League. Following that he landed second spot, but then saw results nosedive in his third campaign. He is being linked with a sensational return to Manchester as the club weigh up whether Ruben Amorim is the right man to lead them forward. Mourinho has never been shy in laying down what he wants and appear to take a swipe at the amount of roles he's had to take on in some of his previous jobs. "In some club structures, you have to be the coach, you have to be the technical director, you have to be the communication director," he said. "Then you have to be the image that defends the club, the players, that is something people realise but at the same time, it is something the coach doesn't like."
