What does it say about the United States when its most influential and wealthiest figures engage in public disputes?
A very public and noisy conflict has erupted between two powerful, wealthy, and prominent American figures.
Donald Trump, arguably the world’s most powerful politician, and Elon Musk, once considered a close associate and the wealthiest person on the planet, have concluded their nearly year-long, enthusiastic relationship with mutual accusations, according to reports from the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and The New York Times. Regardless of one’s opinion on oligarchic techno-capitalism, it can be quite captivating.
Using their respective social media platforms, Musk and Trump have engaged in intense reputational attacks, exchanging accusations of owing favors and issuing significant threats of economic and political harm.
The primary catalyst for this falling out is Trump’s proposed legislation, which he refers to as the “Big Beautiful Bill,” currently under consideration in Congress. Musk, despite benefiting from lucrative government contracts, identifies as a deficit hawk and expresses serious concerns about the escalating national debt. Given the narrow Republican majority in the Senate, this poses a potential political setback, if not a significant challenge, for the White House.
Furthermore, the US’s sovereign debt is a genuine and pressing issue with severe economic and geopolitical consequences; estimates suggest that Trump’s bill will cost over the next decade, validating Musk’s argument.
However, Trump’s bill also eliminates tax credits for purchasing Musk’s Tesla vehicles (among other EVs), potentially costing Tesla an estimated $1.2 billion. This highlights the complexities at the intersection of conservative ideology and the desire to exploit public resources for personal and shareholder gain.
Musk also “revealed” that Donald Trump’s name appears on the client list of Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier, pedophile, and alleged intelligence-linked blackmailer who died by suicide in jail in 2019. Emulating his earlier centrist political leanings, Musk suggested impeaching Trump and forming a new party to challenge his dominance. This may allow liberal Tesla owners to feel good about their cars again.
Trump retaliated by warning Musk that his substantial government contracts could vanish, prompting Musk to threaten halting the transportation of US astronauts into orbit, effectively shutting down US space operations since his company is essentially a monopoly. The Washington Post described this as a “.,” a reflection of Washington’s decision to let “the Market” manage national security.
Overall, it’s been quite a spectacle: loud, unrestrained, and somewhat unseemly. It was hardly a dignified display of leadership at the highest level. However, given the current state of the US “elite,” the threshold for genuine shock is considerably high, or low, depending on one’s perspective.
The feud may or may not subside. Both Trump and Musk stand to lose considerably from a prolonged conflict, both financially and politically, and both are known for being egotistical yet pragmatic. There are indications that Musk, for one, might be looking to de-escalate, as evidenced by and .
Considering Trump’s reputation for backing down and Musk’s history of yielding when financially incentivized (as seen in Brazil and concerning Israel’s actions), the two alpha figures may still find a way to reconcile.
However, the relationship will never be the same. By losing their composure, Musk and Trump have revealed three crucial things to each other: their inherent volatility; that neither is exempt from being targeted; and their capacity to quickly devise methods of inflicting harm on the other.
If Musk and Trump reconcile, it would resemble a celebrity marriage surviving after both partners have engaged in public infidelity and attempts to ruin each other financially and reputationally.
Stepping back, the Big Bro Bust-Up is most insightful when viewed from a future historical perspective: What does this dispute reveal about America at this juncture?
Firstly, it confirms the widely held belief that the US is not a democracy but an oligarchy and plutocracy. Money holds more sway than votes because it influences them. Musk has openly stated that he might redirect funds elsewhere, potentially withdrawing support already promised.
Secondly, the American oligarchy/plutocracy is not currently under pressure “from below.” Objectively, Americans have ample reason to challenge both Trump and Musk. However, the tension and conflict originate within the elite, not from “the masses.”
Thirdly, the US elite remains amoral, immoral, and potentially malevolent. This major disagreement between the leading oligarch and the president revolves around taxes, the deficit, profits, ego, and personal gain, rather than issues such as the US’s continued military support for Israel amid the Gaza conflict. Musk has maintained his support for Israel, while Trump has reached a similar level of complicity as his predecessor, Joe Biden.
America: The world observes your priorities and will not forget.