Fubar: The Unfriendly Breakup Between Donald Trump and Elon Musk
- ~5 min read, informal, approachable tone
Germans usually have a term for it: Schadenfreude - a feeling of pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others. - "Germans allegedly have a peculiar term for it"
There's a monumental ruckus brewing in the land of the free and the home of the brave. Two titans, Ex-POTUS Donald Trump and tech god Elon Musk, are throwing verbal jabs at each other like prizefighters in a particularly unseemly brawl. They're at it on every social media platform from X to Truth Social, accusing each other of lying and even making veiled threats.
The entire globe is in stitches, with mockery flying left and right due to the meltdown of their cherished bromance.
Boom! The Sudden Split Between Trump and Musk
This fight ain't just about personal beef. It's got big stakes for the nation, as Musk has taken a stance against the cornerstone of Trump's political agenda: his "big, beautiful bill." A major turning point came when Trump, after several cabinet members complained, put the kibosh on Musk and told him to work with the cabinet chiefs and use a "scalpel" rather than a "beil." For the world's wealthiest man, that was a major setback.
Trump took a while to respond, muttering under his breath, but on a Thursday morning, he'd had enough. He called out Musk for his criticism, accused him of suffering from "Trump Derangement Syndrome," and, well, that was that. Boom!
The Root Cause? Conflict Between Two Masters of Spin
"Vox":
"This is more than just a spat. It's gonna affect the country, as Musk has decided to oppose the bedrock of Trump's legislative agenda. And it all started back in early March..."
"Politico":
"Musk had been gunning for the bill, calling it a 'disgusting abomination.' But Trump had kept his cool till then. However, on Thursday, Trump couldn't take it anymore. He threw down the gauntlet. Boom!"
"The Atlantic":
"The split is inevitable, yet shocking. (The Germans must have a word for this; perhaps Trump could ask Chancellor Merz, if he's hanging around). [...] The clash between Musk and Trump will be a test of what happens when two of the greatest talkers in history go head-to-head. [...] But it's the clash between two men who thought they could pull one over on each other that's truly intriguing."
"Semafor":
"We better find those phones before it's too late! [...] Musk has thrown Trump under the bus. The next questions are: How much will this schism affect current politics? Will the cost-cutting measure DOGE survive? Will Musk follow through on his threat to ground the Dragon spacecraft from SpaceX? And will Trump and Musk be on opposite sides during the GOP congressional primaries next year?"
Maybe Trump Thought Musk Was Just Another 'Trumputinist'
"The Hill":
"Both of them have the power to hurt each other. [...] Trump's penchant for vengeance against those he feels have wronged him makes it likely that Musk's companies will be in the crosshairs. [...] But that's not the whole story. Musk is popular, especially with the younger, right-wing crowd that admires his bluntness more than they do the president."
"The New Yorker":
"Maybe Trump thought Musk was just another Trump loyalist, one of those faithful followers who would do anything for the president."
"The New Republic":
"Sure, the feud between Musk and Trump is good for us [the Democrats]. Let them fight - it's a tactic that works. The fight between Musk and Trump is tearing apart the Republican Party, threatening a terrible piece of legislation, and making both of them look like immature babies. [...] That's what we want. [...] Let them trash talk, and let them mark their territory, and then let them drift apart."
"The Washington Post":
"Let's not let this soap opera diversion distract us from the real divide at hand - a divide that affects not just Musk but also millions of young Americans. The Republican Party's focus on reckless spending instead of fiscal responsibility is what's causing this generational divide. [...] Young people deserve a policy that helps them prepare for emergencies."
- The mud battle between Elon Musk and Donald Trump has escalated, with both men trading barbs on various social media platforms, causing a stir in the US media and beyond.
- The feud between the two figures extends beyond personal disagreements, as Musk's opposition to a key part of Trump's political agenda has caused a rift.
- News outlets like Vox, Politico, The Atlantic, Semafor, The Hill, The New Yorker, The New Republic, and The Washington Post have all analyzed the conflict, discussing its potential impact on policy, popular culture, and politics.
- Despite their shared status as influential men in their respective fields, the war of the roses between Musk and Trump seems to have exposed a fundamental difference in their approach to policy, reputation, and public perception.
