Latest news with #TrumpMuskConflict
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Michael Cohen Warns Musk: Trump ‘Hammer' Is Going to ‘Drop'
President Donald Trump's former 'fixer' put Elon Musk on alert about incoming retribution from the president after their bitter break-up. 'They are going to drop the hammer on him out of nowhere, when he least expects it,' lawyer Michael Cohen told MSNBC. 'That's the playbook. And, again, this is political guerilla warfare at the highest level.' Cohen, who experienced his own fall from Trump's good graces, predicted that the retaliation would take the form of personal smears, the 'weaponization' of the Justice Department, and targeting of Musk's companies. Trump has yet to launch a full-faced war on Musk, his former bankroller and adviser, who on Thursday went nuclear on the president. Musk, infuriated by Trump's 'big, beautiful bill', alleged that he was in 'the Epstein files' and called for his impeachment. However, Cohen said that because of the size of the two men's egos, a dramatic escalation of the clash was inevitable. 'Elon Musk has massive power, and here's the problem with that,' he said. 'Trump craves relevance, Elon Musk craves dominance. Very big difference. You're talking about an immovable force trying to smash into something that's indestructible. this is going to be a war like nobody has seen maybe in all of history.' Cohen suggested that Musk was the latest in a long list of men who wanted to influence Trump by 'whispering in the ear,' pointing to former advisers Rudy Giuliani and Jared Kushner. 'It doesn't end well for anybody,' he said. 'And it's not going to end well for Elon Musk.' Cohen directed a message to Musk directly: 'You're never— Elon, you're never more powerful than the president of the Unites States. And you're never richer than the country.' So far, Trump has limited himself to insinuating that Musk's drug use could be responsible for the blow-up. 'I'm not even thinking about Elon. He's got a problem. The poor guy's got a problem,' Trump said Friday. Musk, meanwhile, has quieted down—and deleted several of his most inflammatory posts, such as the bombshell allegation that Trump's ties to Jeffrey Epstein are the reason files on the sex offender haven't been released. Cohen was an attorney for Trump from 2006 to 2018. He eventually turned on Trump after he became caught up in an FBI investigation into the 2016 campaign's links to Russia. Cohen wound up serving three years in prison for campaign finance infractions, tax fraud, and bank fraud.
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The Independent
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Independent
Republicans call for an end to Trump-Musk feud: ‘I hope it doesn't distract us'
As the Republican Party anticipates potential fallout from Donald Trump's public dispute with Elon Musk, prominent lawmakers and conservative voices are calling for reconciliation, wary of the repercussions of a sustained conflict. The animosity between the two figures could pose challenges for the Republican agenda, particularly concerning tax and border spending legislation championed by Trump but criticised by Musk. Representative Dan Newhouse, a Republican from Washington, expressed hope that the disagreement would not impede progress on critical tasks. Speaking on the matter, Newhouse said: "I hope it doesn't distract us from getting the job done that we need to. I think that it will boil over and they'll mend fences." As of Friday afternoon, Musk had refrained from further engagement, focusing instead on promoting his various companies on social media. Senator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, voiced optimism for a resolution, telling Fox News that, "I hope that both of them come back together because when the two of them are working together, we'll get a lot more done for America than when they're at cross purposes". Sen. Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah, sounded almost pained on social media as Trump and Musk volleyed insults at each other, sharing a photo composite of the two men and writing, "But … I really like both of them.' 'Who else really wants @elonmusk and @realDonaldTrump to reconcile?' Lee posted, later adding: 'Repost if you agree that the world is a better place with the Trump-Musk bromance fully intact.' So far, the feud between Trump and Musk is probably best described as a moving target, with plenty of opportunities for escalation or detente. One person familiar with the president's thinking said Musk wants to speak with Trump, but that the president doesn't want to do it – or at least do it on Friday. The person requested anonymity to disclose private matters. In a series of conversations with television anchors Friday morning, Trump showed no interest in burying the hatchet. Asked on ABC News about reports of a potential call between him and Musk, the president responded: 'You mean the man who has lost his mind?' Trump added in the ABC interview that he was 'not particularly' interested in talking to Musk at the moment. Still, others remained hopeful that it all would blow over. 'I grew up playing hockey and there wasn't a single day that we played hockey or basketball or football or baseball, whatever we were playing, where we didn't fight. And then we'd fight, then we'd become friends again,' Hannity said on his show Thursday night. Acknowledging that it 'got personal very quick,' Hannity nonetheless added that the rift was 'just a major policy difference.' House Speaker Mike Johnson projected confidence that the dispute would not affect prospects for the tax and border bill. 'Members are not shaken at all,' the Louisiana Republican said. 'We're going to pass this legislation on our deadline.' He added that he hopes Musk and Trump reconcile, saying 'I believe in redemption' and 'it's good for the party and the country if all that's worked out.' But he also had something of a warning for the billionaire entrepreneur. 'I'll tell you what, do not doubt and do not second-guess and don't ever challenge the president of the United States, Donald Trump,' Johnson said. "He is the leader of the party. He's the most consequential political figure of this generation and probably the modern era.'
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Live updates: Investors dump Tesla on bet that Trump may lash out at Musk through his car company
Shares of Elon Musk's electric vehicle maker plunged more than 14% as investors dumped holdings, as investors fear his dispute with President Donald Trump could end up hurting the company. Update: Date: 2025-06-06 12:10:24 Title: Is a Trump-Musk detente coming? Content: After Thursday's spectacular blow-up between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk - which unfolded in real time - the big question for this Friday is: What next? In a call with ABC News on Friday, Trump called Musk a 'man who has lost his mind.' According to the network's correspondent, Jon Karl, the president said he is 'not particularly' interested in speaking with Musk directly. Still, Trump said Musk wants to talk to him, Karl reported. Update: Date: 2025-06-06 11:52:02 Title: Judge puts temporary hold on Trump's latest ban on Harvard's foreign students Content: A federal judge late Thursday temporarily blocked a proclamation by Trump that banned foreign students from entering the U.S. to attend Harvard University. Trump's proclamation was the latest attempt by his administration to prevent the nation's oldest and wealthiest college from enrolling a quarter of its students, who account for much of Harvard's research and scholarship. Harvard filed a legal challenge the next day, asking for a judge to block Trump's order and calling it illegal retaliation for Harvard's rejection of White House demands. Harvard said the president was attempting an end-run around a previous court order. A few hours later, U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs in Boston issued a temporary restraining order against Trump's Wednesday proclamation. Harvard, she said, had demonstrated it would sustain 'immediate and irreparable injury' before she would have an opportunity to hear from the parties in the lawsuit. Burroughs also extended the temporary hold she placed on the administration's previous attempt to end Harvard's enrollment of international students. ▶ Read more about Harvard and Trump Update: Date: 2025-06-06 11:49:29 Title: Ask AP a question Content: Update: Date: 2025-06-06 11:49:05 Title: Trump and Musk break up, and Washington holds its breath Content: After long months when Trump and Musk appeared united in their chaotic mission to remake Washington, their relationship imploded this week like a star going supernova. It began with Musk complaining about the centerpiece of Trump's legislative agenda, which the president at first took in stride. Eventually, Trump let slip that he was disappointed in his former adviser, prompting Musk to unleash a flood of insults and taunts. He accused Trump of betraying promises to cut federal spending, shared a suggestion that the president should be impeached and claimed without evidence that the government was concealing information about his association with infamous pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Perhaps most viciously, Musk insisted that Trump wouldn't have won last year's election without his help. Trump, not one to slouch from a fight, could hold back no longer. He posted that Musk had been 'wearing thin,' that he had 'asked him to leave' his administration, that the tech titan had 'gone CRAZY.' Maybe, Trump threatened, he should save taxpayer money by canceling government contracts and subsidies for Musk's companies. ▶ Read more about the war of words between Trump and Musk Update: Date: 2025-06-06 11:46:52 Title: Goodbye Mr. Nice Guy? Investors dump Tesla on bet Trump may lash out at Musk through his car company Content: Investors bought hundreds of billions of dollars of Tesla stock after Trump was elected on a bet that politics were more important than profits. In three hours Thursday, they learned yet again how dangerous that gamble could be. Shares of Elon Musk's electric vehicle maker plunged more than 14% in a stunning wipeout as investors dumped holdings amid a bitter war of words between the president and the world's richest man. The disagreement started over the president's budget bill, then quickly turned nasty. After Musk said that Trump wouldn't have gotten elected without his help, Trump implied that he may turn the federal government against his companies, including Tesla and SpaceX. The drop on Thursday partially reversed a big runup in the eight weeks since Musk confirmed that Tesla would be testing an autonomous, driverless 'robotaxi' service in Austin, Texas, this month. ▶ Read more about the fallout from the Trump and Musk battle
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
7 Republicans stuck in the middle of the Trump-Musk divorce
The tension between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk finally burst into the open Thursday, likely closing the chapter on one of the most significant alliances in recent political history. In the wake of the schism, some Republicans are stuck in the middle debating their next moves. Do they side with Trump, the leader of the party whose influence and authority looms over so many aspects of life? Or do they back Musk, whose massive fortune could provide a boost to anyone running for reelection — or running to succeed Trump in 2028 — even as he threatens to withhold donations to lawmakers who back the Republican megabill? Could they attempt to appease both? Musk, 53, is already drawing a future-forward line between himself and Trump, 78, and urging Republicans to come to his side. 'Some food for thought as they ponder this question,' Musk wrote on X in response to far-right activist Laura Loomer wondering how Republicans would react. 'Trump has 3.5 years left as President, but I will be around for 40+ years.' Here are the Republicans who we're watching closely to determine how to navigate the fallout: The vice president and possible heir to Trump's political movement could be the biggest loser of the blowout. With Musk's future potential campaign contributions now in jeopardy, Vance, an expected 2028 presidential candidate, would have an incentive to mediate the relationship. Vance wouldn't want to jeopardize a donor relationship with Musk, but he also needs Trump's support if he wants to inherit his base. He will be constrained in how much he can realistically break from Trump if the feud continues. Musk appeared to endorse Vance in 'in an X post calling from Trump to be impeached and the vice president to take his place, suggesting their relationship remains intact for now. And the two appear to share some political stances, including supporting Germany's far-right party Alternative for Deutschland (AfD). In April, after it was first reported that Musk intended to leave the White House, Vance said he expected Trump and Musk to remain close, a seemingly lousy prediction in hindsight. 'DOGE has got a lot of work to do, and yeah, that work is going to continue after Elon leaves,' Vance said in April. 'But fundamentally, Elon is going to remain a friend and an adviser of both me and the president.' The Florida governor has had a tortured relationship with Trump, his former political benefactor-turned-2024 rival who bulldozed him during the presidential campaign. But since Trump took office, DeSantis has publicly supported the president and signed into law a Florida immigration law that furthered Trump's immigration agenda. He's also a big fan of Musk. Musk was an early booster of the Florida governor's failed presidential campaign, offering to host a glitchy, error-ridden launch event via X Spaces, the audio livestream feature on the Musk-owned social media site. Musk also contributed $10 million to DeSantis' campaign before he dropped out and endorsed Trump. In Musk's final week as part of the Trump administration, DeSantis praised his work leading the Department of Government Efficiency and echoed Musk's criticisms of the reconciliation package for not doing enough to reduce the deficit, calling the bill 'a betrayal of the voters.' He went further on Wednesday, singling out Musk in a fundraising solicitation. 'Elon Musk stood tall and took the hits to lead the fight on DOGE, cutting wasteful spending and exposing bloated government programs,' said a fundraising email Wednesday from one of DeSantis' political committees. 'The media attacked him. The Left panicked. But now? Even Republicans in Congress are backing down.' It's unclear what DeSantis' political future holds — he's term-limited as governor from 2026 — but Musk's backing could play a role in whatever he does next. A spokesperson for the governor's political operation said the fundraising language was approved May 29 — the day before Trump prepared to extol Musk during a friendly send-off at the White House. The Trump-Musk rift sets up some potential awkwardness between Stephen Miller, Trump's powerful deputy chief of staff, and his wife Katie Miller, who joined DOGE as an aide to Musk and left last week to work for the billionaire entrepreneur. The New York Times reported in January that Stephen Miller had been advising Musk on his political donations. But it's unclear if that relationship is still strong. And after Musk started attacking the Republican megabill, Stephen Miller became a staunch defender of the legislation. On Thursday, after Trump and Musk traded barbs, Musk appeared to unfollow Miller on X. If there was ever a path to peace between Trump and Musk, the Millers could play a role — or it could cause a rift in their marriage. Once tapped to co-lead DOGE with Musk, Ramaswamy split off from the administration before Inauguration Day and ultimately mounted a run for governor of Ohio. But the former presidential candidate, who raised his profile by passionately defending Trump in the 2024 Republican primaries, has always aligned himself with the cost-cutting, Libertarian brand of conservatism that Musk embraces. However, if Ramaswamy seeks to grow closer to Musk in the vacuum left by Trump when he leaves office, he'll have to overcome the fact that Musk thinks he's annoying. Sacks, a South African entrepreneur, came into Trump's orbit by way of Musk, and now heads artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency policy for the White House. But if the White House withdrawing Jared Isaacman's nomination to head NASA is any indication, Sacks may not be long for Washington. On the other hand, Trump's embrace of the crypto industry — and Sacks' role as crypto czar — could prove to be tempting enough for Sacks to side with the president against his longtime friend. As Trump and Musk clash over the reconciliation bill, Senate Republicans are left to pick up the pieces as they continue to argue over changes to satisfy at least 50 members and pass the bill. Tillis in particular is facing a tough reelection battle and could surely use strong support from Trump and Musk. On Wednesday — day two of Musk tweeting attacks against the bill — Tillis told CNN Musk is a 'brilliant guy,' while noting he's 'got resources.' With Republicans looking to approve the bill this summer, Tillis could be forced to take a side earlier than he might like. How he navigates the rift may offer a roadmap for other battleground Republicans ahead of 2026. Vance, DeSantis, Stephen Miller, Katie Miller, Ramaswamy, Sack and Tillis did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
