Latest news with #politicalbreakup
Sky News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News
Trump v Musk: The big, beautiful bust-up everyone knew was coming
And so, in the end, it was the big, beautiful bill that prompted the big, beautiful bust-up almost everyone knew was coming. Ever since the Trump and Musk alliance was formed almost a year ago, megalomaniac watchers the world over have been asking when and how it would end. Now we have our answer; 137 days into Trump's presidency and with the fire-powered ferocity of one of Musk's rocket launches. At times, it felt voyeuristic to watch, the kind of rubbernecking that takes place with the ugliest of celebrity breakups. It's a Brangelina inside the beltway, but with implications far beyond it. Because Musk was as close to the president as anyone outside his own family. He spent weekends living at Trump's Mar-a-Lago home, his mum attended parties there, his son wiped his bogies on the resolute desk. But like so many domestic disputes, it got very messy, very quickly. As always when Trump has something to say, he waits for the inevitable question. It came immediately after his meeting inside the Oval Office with German Chancellor Freidrich Merz. A journalist asked about Musk's criticism of his "big, beautiful" bill. Trump saw his opening. "I've always liked Elon. I'd rather have him criticise me than the bill," he said, quickly noting that he and Musk had a great relationship. "I don't know if we will anymore," he added. Less than half an hour later, a post on X by Musk made it very apparent that they would, indeed, no longer have a great relationship. "Without me, Trump would have lost the election," he wrote. It was a torpedo that unleashed an, at times, unhinged back and forth including an unfounded allegation from Musk about Trump being part of the "Epstein files". Just a week after Trump presented Musk with a golden key in a grand farewell, Musk was burning the house down. But this break up will affect everyone involved, not to mention the American public. Brand Trump will be damaged by the loss of Musk's endorsement and loyalty. 5:17 Republican politicians will be wary of angering Musk by voting for Trump's spending bill. The world's richest man has shown he is willing to put his money on the line in election races and the midterms are looming. The government's reliance on Musk's companies is also huge. Space X is the key player in space exploration and Musk has been providing invaluable advice to the White House on artificial intelligence and electric vehicles. What will now happen to the Department of Government efficiency? 1:48 Meanwhile shares are down significantly at all of Musk's companies with Trump likely to seek vengeance. There could also be an investigation, now, into allegations that Musk's drug use while in government was out of control. There are so many unknowns and one certainty - there are no winners here, apart from the comedians who trade in jokes about this pair of impulsive billionaires.
New York Times
5 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Trump and Musk's Unlikely Alliance Breaks Down in Rapid and Public Fashion
It was always the most unlikely of alliances. Last year, two mercurial billionaires formed a partnership and vowed to drive the country in a new direction. Donald Trump had the political power. Elon Musk had the money and social media might. But on Thursday, their union dissolved in remarkably public and rapid fashion, with the two men attacking each other over matters both significant and petty. Beyond the immediate drama, the breakup of the president and the world's richest man upended one of the most powerful dynamics shaping Mr. Trump's second term. Their dispute began days ago over the president's signature domestic policy bill, which Mr. Musk had panned as a 'disgusting abomination.' But it escalated uncontrollably on Thursday into a fight over who deserved more credit for Mr. Trump's election victory, why Mr. Musk had not covered up his black eye with makeup during an Oval Office appearance last week and why Mr. Trump had abruptly dropped his support for a Musk associate nominated to lead NASA. The sparring swiftly devolved into threats on their respective social media platforms, as Mr. Trump threatened to cut the billions in dollars in federal government contracts with Mr. Musk's companies. For his part, Mr. Musk unleashed a tirade of attacks on the man he had once lavishly praised. He suggested it might be time to create a new political party, claimed there were references to Mr. Trump in government documents about the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and indicated his support for a post calling for the president's impeachment. transcript Trump and Musk Sling Personal Attacks I'm very disappointed in Elon. I've helped Elon a lot. Look, Elon and I had a great relationship. I don't know if we will anymore. I was surprised — because you were here. Everybody in this room practically was here, as we had a wonderful sendoff. He said wonderful things about me. You couldn't have nicer — said the best things. Elon's upset because we took the E.V. mandate, which was a lot of money for electric vehicles, and they're having a hard time — the electric vehicles — and they want us to pay billions of dollars in subsidy. And Elon knew this from the beginning. He knew it for a long time ago. That's been in there, that's been — I would say JD — that hasn't changed. That's been right from the beginning. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Sky News
5 days ago
- Business
- Sky News
Trump v Musk has got very messy very quickly, and TV's punchline writers will be the only winners
And so, in the end, it was the big, beautiful bill that prompted the big, beautiful bust-up almost everyone knew was coming. Ever since the Trump and Musk alliance was formed almost a year ago, megalomaniac watchers the world over have been asking when and how it would end. Now we have our answer; 137 days into Trump's presidency and with the fire-powered ferocity of one of Musk's rocket launches. At times, it felt voyeuristic to watch, the kind of rubbernecking that takes place with the ugliest of celebrity breakups. It's a Brangelina inside the beltway, but with implications far beyond it. Because Musk was as close to the president as anyone outside his own family. He spent weekends living at Trump's Mar-a-Lago home, his mum attended parties there, his son wiped his bogies on the resolute desk. But like so many domestic disputes, it got very messy, very quickly. 2:56 As always when Trump has something to say, he waits for the inevitable question. It came immediately after his meeting inside the Oval Office with German Chancellor Freidrich Merz. A journalist asked about Musk's criticism of his "big, beautiful" bill. Trump saw his opening. "I've always liked Elon. I'd rather have him criticise me than the bill," he said, quickly noting that he and Musk had a great relationship. "I don't know if we will anymore," he added. Less than half an hour later, a post on X by Musk made it very apparent that they would, indeed, no longer have a great relationship. "Without me, Trump would have lost the election," he wrote. It was a torpedo that unleashed an, at times, unhinged back and forth including an unfounded allegation from Musk about Trump being part of the "Epstein files". Just a week after Trump presented Musk with a golden key in a grand farewell, Musk was burning the house down. But this break up will affect everyone involved, not to mention the American public. Brand Trump will be damaged by the loss of Musk's endorsement and loyalty. 5:17 Republican politicians will be wary of angering Musk by voting for Trump's spending bill. The world's richest man has shown he is willing to put his money on the line in election races and the midterms are looming. The government's reliance on Musk's companies is also huge. Space X is the key player in space exploration and Musk has been providing invaluable advice to the White House on artificial intelligence and electric vehicles. What will now happen to the Department of Government efficiency? Meanwhile shares are down significantly at all of Musk's companies with Trump likely to seek vengeance. There could also be an investigation, now, into allegations that Musk's drug use while in government was out of control. There are so many unknowns and one certainty - there are no winners here, apart from the comedians who trade in jokes about this pair of impulsive billionaires.
