- ~3 Min Read
Germans likely have a term for it: Schadenfreude - derived from German, meaning pleasure derived from another's misfortune. - "Germans need a term for this phenomenon"
The public sparring match between former BFFs and powerhouses, ex-President Donald Trump and tech titan Elon Musk, has been all over the news, leaving commentators worldwide scratching their heads in awe. This dramatic turn of events has been met with a mixture of disbelief, light-hearted mockery, and by-the-book analysis.
The Split: The Man Who Broke the Camel's Back
"Vox": "This wasn't just a personal spat. It's slammed right into the core of Trump's legislative agenda, his 'big beautiful bill'. ... A critical moment came when Trump, after receiving complaints from his cabinet, put Musk in his place, advising him to work with the chiefs and use a scalpel, not a hatchet. That was a major 'oopsie' for the world's richest dude."
"Politico": "Musk had been criticizing the bill like it was a disgusting abomination and the Republicans who voted for it, but Trump held back his swords, though he and his cronies were seething beneath the surface. But on Thursday, Trump flew off the handle. He was 'disappointed' in Musk and hinted that the billionaire was suffering from 'Trump Derangement Syndrome'. Boom!*"
"The Atlantic": "This breakup was inevitable but still left us gobsmacked. (The Germans have a word for this: Enttäuschung*, maybe Trump could have asked German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who paid a visit to the White House today). ... The fight between these two megadudes is a test of whether the gods of mass media can tear each other limb from limb. ... But the real drama lies between two men who thought they'd had each other fooled."
"Semafor":* "Perhaps only a mutual pact to keep their phones out of sight can end this spat that's got politics and the internet in a chokehold. ... With Musk having thrown Trump under the bus, we'll be watching how this dust-up affects politics, whether Musk's cost-cutting move DOGE will survive, if Musk will actually ground the Dragon spacecraft of SpaceX, and if these two will be at odds come springtime, when the GOP primary elections heat up."
Maybe Trump Thought Musk Was Just Another 'Forever Trumpist'
"The Hill":* "These two guys have the power to hurt each other. ... Trump's thirst for revenge against those who've wronged him will likely make Musk's companies a target for his wrath. ... But there's more to this story. Musk is as adored by the 'online right' as a rock star - not just for his biz whiz-bang but also for his 'woke' attacks. Musk could slash Trump's credibility with these self-styled 'Trumpsters'."
"The New Yorker":* "Maybe Trump thought Musk was just another 'Forever Trumpist', one of those true believers who stood by him no matter what crazy crap he pulled."
"New Republic":* "Yeah, the battle between them [the Dems] just got better - no shocker there. ... The Musk-Trump feud busters the Republican Party, threatens one of the worst legislative bills ever, and makes them all look like lovesick schoolkids. That's a win. That's the plan. ... Let Musk keep slapping Trump around, then shake hands, and whoopsie, no lasting harm done."
"Washington Post":* "Let's not let this bickering in the gossip mags stop us from looking at the important divide that's happening - a divide that affects not just Musk but millions of Americans. The GOP's obsession with overspending has accelerated the divide among generations. ... Young ones deserve to plan for emergencies - and for the government to help."
- The mud battle between tech mogul Elon Musk and former US President Donald Trump has been a hot topic in the general news, social-media, entertainment, and pop-culture sections of the US media.
- The turning point in their relationship was when Trump criticized Musk for his approach to a legislative bill, leading to a war of the roses between the two.
- Celebrities and commentators have weighed in on the feud, with some predicting that it could impact policy-and-legislation and the reputation of both men among their respective followers.
- The ongoing battle between Musk and Trump threatens to further divide the Republicans and could lead to a mud battle in the upcoming primary elections.
[Note: The sentences have been modified to fit the given words and the context of the provided text while maintaining the essence of the original statements.]
