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Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
From bros to foes: how the unlikely Trump-Musk relationship imploded
When Donald Trump met privately with White House officials on Wednesday, there was little to suggest that the US president was close to a public break with Elon Musk, the billionaire businessman who helped him win a second term in office. Two White House officials familiar with the matter said Trump expressed confusion and frustration in the meeting about Musk's attacks on his sweeping tax and spending bill. But he held back, the officials said, because he wanted to preserve Musk's political and financial support ahead of the midterm elections. By Thursday afternoon, Trump's mood had shifted. He had not spoken to Musk since the attacks began and was fuming over what one White House aide described as a "completely batshit" tirade by the Tesla CEO on X, his social media platform. Musk had blasted Trump's tax bill as fiscally reckless and a "disgusting abomination." He vowed to oppose any Republican lawmaker who supported it. The bill would fulfill many of Trump's priorities while adding, according to the Congressional Budget Office, $2.4 trillion to the $36.2-trillion US public debt. Protesters outside a Tesla Service Center on Tchoupitoulas Street in New Orleans express their issues with Elon Musk and President Donald Trump on Friday, March 14, 2025. (Chris Granger/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP) Privately, Trump had called Musk volatile. On Thursday, he told his team, it was time to take the gloves off. Sitting next to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office, Trump told reporters he was "very disappointed" in his former adviser. Musk quickly hit back on social media, and the back-and-forth devolved from there. "The easiest way to save money in our budget, billions and billions of dollars, is to terminate Elon's government subsidies and contracts," Trump posted on Truth Social, his social media site. Within minutes, Musk said it might be time to create a new political party and endorsed a post on X from Ian Miles Cheong, a prominent Musk supporter and right-wing activist, calling for Trump's impeachment. The Trump-Musk relationship at its height was unprecedented in Washington - a sitting president granting a billionaire tech CEO access and influence inside the White House and throughout his government. Musk spent nearly $300 million backing Trump's campaign and other Republicans last year. For months, Musk played both insider and disruptor - shaping policy conversations behind the scenes, amplifying Trump's agenda to millions online, and attacking the bureaucracy and federal spending through his self-styled Department of Government Efficiency. Just last week, Trump hosted a farewell for Musk and declared that "Elon is really not leaving." Now he had not only left but had turned into a top critic. Hours after Trump's Oval Office remarks, a third White House official expressed surprise at Musk's turnaround. It "caught the president and the entire West Wing off guard," she said. President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference with Elon Musk in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, May 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Musk did not respond to emails seeking comment about the downturn in relations. His super PAC spending group, America PAC, and spokeswoman Katie Miller did not respond to calls and texts requesting comment. In a statement, the White House called the breakup an "unfortunate episode from Elon, who is unhappy with the One Big Beautiful Bill because it does not include the policies he wanted." FROM ALLIES TO ADVERSARIES The Musk-Trump breakup sent Tesla's stock price plunging 14% on Thursday and drove uncertainty among Trump's allies in Congress, who are working to pass the monumental spending package that Democrats and a small number of vocal Republicans oppose. The breakup could reshape both men's futures. For Trump, losing Musk's backing threatens his growing influence among tech donors, social media audiences, and younger male voters — key groups that may now be harder to reach. It could also complicate fundraising ahead of next year's midterm elections. For Musk, the stakes are potentially even higher. The break risks intensified scrutiny of his business practices that could jeopardize government contracts and invite regulatory probes, which might threaten his companies' profits. Some of Musk's friends and associates were stunned by the fallout, with a number of them only recently expressing confidence that the partnership would endure, according to two other sources familiar with the dynamics. FILE - Elon Musk jumps on the stage as Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show, Oct. 5, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) The split had been simmering for weeks, said the first two White House officials, but the breaking point was over personnel: Trump's decision to pull his nomination of Jared Isaacman, Musk's hand-picked candidate to be Nasa administrator. "He was not happy" about Isaacman, one of the White House officials said of Musk. Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur and close Musk ally, was seen as key to advancing Musk's vision for space exploration and commercial space ventures. After his nomination was scuttled, Isaacman posted on X: "I am incredibly grateful to President Trump, the Senate and all those who supported me." The move was viewed within the administration as a direct snub to Musk, the two officials said, signaling a loss of political clout and deepening the rift between him and Trump's team. Before the Isaacman episode, top White House aides behind the scenes had already begun limiting Musk's influence — quietly walking back his authority over staffing and budget decisions. Trump himself reinforced that message in early March, telling his cabinet that department secretaries, not Musk, had the final say over agency operations. At the same time, Musk began to hint that his time in government would come to a close, while expressing frustration at times that he could not more aggressively cut spending. President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk speak to reporters near a red Model S Tesla vehicle on the South Lawn of the White House Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Washington. (Pool via AP) His threats and complaints about Trump's bill grew louder, but inside the White House, few believed they would seriously alter the course of the legislation — even as some worried about the fallout on the midterms from Musk's warnings to cut political spending, the first two White House officials said. Still, a fourth White House official dismissed the impact of Musk's words on the president's signature bill. "We're very confident," he said. "No one has changed their minds." But there was bafflement at the White House at how a relationship that only last week had been celebrated in the Oval Office had taken such a turn. Time will tell whether the rift can be repaired. White House aides have scheduled a call between the two men on Friday. - Reuters Read More Tesla shares tumble $150bn as Trump feud with Elon Musk intensifies
New York Post
29-04-2025
- New York Post
Tesla arson suspect arrested in Arizona after he allegedly set brand new Cybertruck on fire
Police in Arizona arrested a suspected arsonist at a Tesla dealership after he allegedly lit a newly delivered Cybertruck on fire. Mesa police responded just before 2:00 a.m. on Monday, April 28, to reports of an explosion at the Tesla Service Center in Mesa, Ariz. Witnesses reported smoke and flames near the building, which officers determined were coming from a newly delivered Tesla Cybertruck. Footage from Fox News affiliate, KSAZ-TV, captured federal and state law enforcement surrounding the Tesla dealership after the fire was put out. The arson suspect, identified by local police as 35-year-old Ian Moses, allegedly wrote 'THEIF' (sic) on the side of the dealership before setting the Cybertruck on fire. The footage captured the charred electric truck as investigators taped off the scene. No injuries were reported. During their investigation, police said they noticed a suspicious van parked nearby and observed a man riding a bicycle approaching and opening the van's door. 5 'THEIF' is written on the wall of the Mesa, Arizona Tesla Service Center on April 28, 2025. KSAZ-TV 5 The charred remains of the Tesla Cybertruck after the arson attack. KSAZ-TV Officers immediately contacted the individual and identified the suspect. Investigators were able to match Moses to security photos captured by the Tesla Security Center during the incident. He was arrested and booked into jail for one count of arson of a structure and property. The Mesa Police Department announced that it is collaborating with federal authorities, and additional charges against Moses are pending as the investigation continues. 5 Police block off an area to investigate the arson attack Monday. KSAZ-TV This arrest comes amid a broader national movement targeting Musk's companies, driven by activists protesting the billionaire's involvement with the Trump administration. Fox News Digital has reported on recent Tesla vandalism incidents nationwide. A Minnesota man is accused of causing $20,000 in damage to Tesla vehicles. Surveillance footage in Florida captured two suspects ramming through a dealership gate and stealing a Tesla. 5 The misspelling vandalism and the destroyed Cybertruck at the service center. KSAZ-TV 5 Tesla CEO Elon Musk attends a cabinet meeting at the White House on April 10, 2025. REUTERS And a Los Vegas man attacking a Tesla dealership is now facing federal charges. In March, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that the Department of Justice would pursue federal charges against vandalizers. 'The swarm of violent attacks on Tesla property is nothing short of domestic terrorism,' she said. 'We will continue investigations that impose severe consequences on those involved in these attacks, including those operating behind the scenes to coordinate and fund these crimes.' Officials have urged anyone with additional information about the suspected arson incident to come forward as the investigation continues. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Mesa Police Department and Tesla Inc. for comment.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘#DieTrump' post by Fresno State instructor goes national. How bad is backlash?
A Fresno State professor who wished death upon U.S. President Donald Trump on social media has caused outrage against the university. So much so that the CEO of a 9/11 remembrance tour has scrapped plans to bring his memorial exhibit to Fresno State. In addition, billionaire Elon Musk chimed in on social media in response to the Fresno State instructor's controversial opinion. What's caused so many people to direct anger at Fresno State? It all started after video circulated on social media of Fresno State part-time lecturer Katherine Shurik being interviewed while protesting next to a Tesla Service Center. 'Trying to get my students here involved as well,' Shurik says in the video after stating she teaches an activist anthropology course at Fresno State. 'Next week, they can get extra credit for coming to the protest.' That video caused some to search for other comments and posts that Shurik might've made. And soon after, different postings from Shurik's Instagram account surfaced, including a photo-shopped picture of Trump lying in a coffin with three former U.S. presidents and their wives, as well as First Lady Melania Trump, all smiling and standing next to a deceased Trump. 'I have a dream for this to happen much sooner rather than later,' Shurik wrote as a caption to the photo-shopped picture. Another post from Shurik's Instagram page, which has since been set on private, showed another photo-shopped picture of a Donald J. Trump cemetery headstone. The president's date of birth is listed on top, as typical of a tombstone, but in place of an alleged date of death was the expression 'Now would be good.' Shurik wrote a caption to accompany the photo: 'And take Musk and the rest of the Nazi (Republican) party members with you too!' Musk eventually responded on his social media platform X (previously known as a Twitter). 'Calling for the death of a president is a serious crime,' Musk wrote. While it was unclear if Shurik would actually face any criminal charges, she's caused quite an uproar directed at both her and Fresno State. Fresno County Board of Supervisor Garry Bredefeld, who's a Republican, criticized the Fresno State professor while painting with a broad brush concerns of teachers and educators. 'These are the unhinged radicals teaching young kids at schools and universities across the country,' Bredefeld posted on X. 'They are hate-filled, radical lunatics and have no business teaching anywhere.' Fresno State issued a statement about Shurik but didn't specify whether the university took any disciplinary action for her social media postings and comments. Fresno State took a similar approach in past years when dealing with backlash after other professors made controversial comments, including calls for the university to terminate them. 'While Fresno State firmly believes in the principles of free speech, we strongly condemn the abhorrent social media posts and comments made by one of our part-time instructors,' Fresno State's public statement read. 'As these views were published by the employee as a private citizen, they do not represent our university in any way. 'Fresno State firmly denounces wishes of death against any elected official, particularly the President of the United States – these go against our core educational values and are not consistent with our Principles of Community. 'As Americans and educators, we pride ourselves on democratic dialogue, not words of derision and contempt about the most important political figure of our country.' Erick Robertson, CEO of 9/11 Remembered Traveling Memorial, expressed frustration that Fresno State did not take harsher action against the professor. In response, he said his organization halted plans that would've brought his traveling memorial exhibit to the central San Joaquin Valley. The 9/11 Remembered Traveling Memorial, which is a charity organization, travels around the country to educate and showcase artifacts of events from Sept. 11, 2001, when terrorists attacked the United States. Robertson said the tour is booked through 2026. While the tour never officially booked a stop at Fresno State, Robertson said the parties were in deep talks to make it happen. But those discussions immediately ended, Robertson said, after he came across the Fresno State professor's social media postings. The 9/11 traveling exhibit is comprised of four semi-truck trailers that open to showcase 1,200 square feet of memorial tributes, including pieces from the World Trade Center. 'At this time, we are suspending Fresno State from being in our logistic planning,' said Robertson, who lived in Oakhurst at the time when 9/11 occurred and volunteered to work at Ground Zero with his search-and-rescue canine company. 'Fresno State is still basically defending this person and not expelling this professor. ... What she's done is what helps create these grass root domestic terrorists. We will never put anyone at our exhibits in danger.' A message left with Shurik was not immediately returned. Back in 2018, Fresno State endured a firestorm of criticism after an English professor expressed her displeasure with former president George Bush and his family within an hour of an official announcement that former First Lady Barbara Bush died at the age of 92. In the aftermath, Fresno State adopted in 2019 'Principles of Community,' a set of guidelines for the behavior of its faculty and staff to foster 'an inclusive work and learning environment of respect, kindness, collaboration, and accountability where every member of the student body, faculty, staff, and administration can thrive.' The guidelines did draw criticism from those who saw it as a means to police speech. Fresno State faced more criticism in 2023 when a business professor issued a syllabus that asked students to provide their personal pronouns. Safety at the university became an issue of concern soon after. FOX26 News reported that a bomb threat evacuation occurred on campus due to the pronouns controversy, via an email that threatened the homes of Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval and the business professor.
