Even though observers have long speculated that Donald Trump and Elon Musk would eventually fall out, few predicted the speed and ferocity with which their social media feud erupted. Since Musk pledged his full-throated support for the president following an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania less than a year ago, the political and business interests of the two men have become increasingly intertwined. In several key areas - including political funding, government contracts and their personal relationships - the two men have come to rely on each other, meaning ending the alliance is likely to be messy. That complicates the fallout from their rift and ensures that, wherever the row goes from here, they will continue to be linked – and have the potential to hurt each other in multiple ways. Over the course of the last year, Musk's donations to Trump and other Republicans have been enormous – totalling $290m (£214m) according to thecampaign finance tracking site Open Secrets. Musk claimed on Thursday that the president won the election because of him, and complained about "ingratitude". There's an obvious counterexample. Earlier this year Musk shovelled $20m into a key judicial race in Wisconsin, however, his chosen Republican candidate lost by 10 percentage points in a state Trump won last November. Still, Musk's donations are a huge chunk of money that Republicans will miss as they try to hold their congressional advantage in the midterm elections in November 2026. It may have been a problem they were facing in any case. Musk has previously said he would contribute a "lot less" to campaigns in the future. But could the bust-up with the White House prompt Musk not just to withdraw but throw his money behind opposition to Trump? He hinted as such on Thursday when he posted a poll on X with the question: "Is it time to create a new political party in America that actually represents the 80% in the middle?" Musk's companies including SpaceX, its subsidiary Starlink and Tesla do a huge amount of business with the US government. SpaceX alone has beenawarded $20.9bn (£16.3 billion) in US government contracts since 2008, according to analysis by BBC Verify. Trump realises this gives him leverage over the world's richest man. He posted on Truth Social on Thursday: "The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon's Governmental Subsidies and Contracts. I was always surprised that Biden didn't do it!" Musk threatened to retaliate by decommissioning SpaceX's Dragon, which ferries astronauts and supplies to the International Space Station. But he later backed down from that threat. In practice, cancelling or withdrawing from government contracts would be a complicated and lengthy legal process, and for now and some time to come, the US government is likely to continue to do a significant amount of business with Musk's companies. No other company other than SpaceX can make Dragon and Falcon 9 rockets, and Nasa has committed to a number of space station and moon missions using SpaceX craft. Despite those commercial partnerships, Musk and his companies also face investigations from a number of government agencies – more than 30, according to a February report by the New York Times – and regulatory issues such as approval for Tesla's proposed driverless taxis. When Musk was given the task of setting up the cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) as one of Trump's key drivers of change inside the US federal government, he was given broad scope to choose his own staff. According to leaked lists of Doge employees, many of them previously worked for Musk's companies. And even though Musk left Doge a week ago, many of the staff remain in their government jobs. Some Doge employees also have deep ties to the Trump camp. Katie Miller - who worked in Trump's first administration and is married to the current White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller - was Doge's spokesperson. However, CNN reported that Mrs Miller also left the government last week and is now working "full time" for Musk. There are others in the Trump administration whose loyalties may be tested by the feud. David Sacks, who Trump named as his top advisor on artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency, is close to Musk, having worked with the tycoon decades ago at PayPal. On X, many Silicon Valley executives along with Maga-world influencers were picking sides and parsing each of the back-and-forth messages posted by the president and the world's richest man. Polling firm YouGovcarried out a snap survey on Thursdayasking people who they would side with. The results indicated 70% of Republican respondents said Trump, compared to less than 1 in 10 who chose Musk.
How Trump and Musk are still linked - despite falling out
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Trump and Musk's Complicated Alliance Amidst Social Media Feud"
Bbc News
7.5
TruthLens AI Summary
The relationship between Donald Trump and Elon Musk has recently become a focal point of discussion, particularly due to the rapid escalation of their social media feud. While many anticipated a falling out, few predicted the intensity with which it would unfold. Their alliance had previously been characterized by mutual support, especially after Musk expressed his backing for Trump following an assassination attempt on the president. This interconnection has extended into various realms, including political financing and government contracts. Musk's financial contributions to Republican candidates have been substantial, totaling approximately $290 million, a figure that underscores his influence in the political landscape. Despite a recent setback with one of his favored candidates losing a key judicial race in Wisconsin, Musk's donations remain a critical asset for the Republican Party as they prepare for the upcoming midterm elections in 2026. However, Musk has hinted at a potential withdrawal from supporting Trump, suggesting he may consider backing a new political movement that represents a broader middle ground in American politics.
The tensions between Trump and Musk are further complicated by their intertwined business interests, particularly regarding Musk’s companies, including SpaceX and Tesla, which depend heavily on government contracts. Since 2008, SpaceX alone has secured approximately $20.9 billion in government contracts, providing Trump with leverage over Musk. Recently, Trump threatened to terminate Musk's government subsidies, which could have significant financial implications. Musk initially responded with a threat to decommission the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, although he later withdrew this threat. The relationship is further complicated by ongoing investigations into Musk's companies and regulatory challenges they face. Moreover, key appointments within Trump's administration, such as those in the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), have ties to Musk, complicating the dynamics between the two figures. As their feud unfolds, it is clear that both men remain significantly linked through political, financial, and personal ties, which may have lasting implications for their respective futures and the broader political landscape.
TruthLens AI Analysis
The article provides an insight into the complex relationship between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, highlighting their recent social media feud and its implications. It explores their intertwined political and business interests, suggesting that both figures may be reluctant to completely sever ties due to mutual dependencies.
Political and Financial Ties
The analysis emphasizes Musk's significant financial contributions to Trump's political campaigns and other Republican candidates, totaling a staggering $290 million. This figure illustrates Musk's influence and the weight his donations carry within the Republican Party, especially as the midterm elections approach. The article raises questions about Musk's future involvement in political funding, particularly in light of his recent criticisms of Trump, suggesting that he may even consider supporting opposition candidates.
Potential Impact on Relationships
The tension between Trump and Musk could lead to a more complicated fallout, with both individuals having the potential to impact each other adversely. Musk's recent poll on whether to create a new political party indicates a shift in his political stance, which may further alienate him from Trump and the Republican establishment. This change could prompt Musk to realign his support, potentially leading to a fragmentation of following among his supporters.
Public Perception and Manipulation
The article aims to shape public perception regarding the feasibility of Musk and Trump's future collaboration while hinting at the potential for political realignment in the U.S. The narrative might be designed to provoke speculation about the implications of their feud, possibly diverting attention from other political dynamics or issues that are also significant.
Market and Economic Influence
Regarding the stock market and broader economic implications, the article suggests that Musk's actions could impact companies linked to him, such as Tesla and SpaceX. If Musk decides to withdraw financial support from Republican campaigns, it may affect the party's fundraising abilities and strategies moving forward.
AI Utilization in Journalism
In terms of artificial intelligence, while the article does not explicitly mention AI, it is possible that AI tools were used for data analysis or to track campaign financing details. The structured presentation of financial contributions and political affiliations may reflect an organized effort to present factual data, which could be enhanced by AI.
In summary, the article presents a nuanced view of the relationship between Trump and Musk, exploring the potential ramifications of their conflict on political funding, public perception, and market dynamics. It raises important questions about future political alignments and highlights the intricacies of their interdependence.