In the Political Circus of the 21st Century
There is nothing more thrilling than the spectacle of “strongman alliances,” nor is there anything more astonishingly humorous than their sudden fallout.
(Background: Musk supports Trump’s impeachment: The beautiful tax law is nauseating; Trump threatens to cut Tesla’s lifeline, causing Tesla’s stock to plummet by 14%)
(Context: Trump may call Musk tonight, and Musk has hinted at a willingness to reconcile. Are they making up even before the fight starts?)
Elon Musk and Donald Trump: A Turbulent Split
Elon Musk, the tech enthusiast eager to shoot humanity to Mars, and Donald Trump, the real estate mogul who wants to make America “great again,” once shared an apparently unbreakable bond. However, in June, their relationship dramatically unraveled in a public spectacle.
Their connection was akin to a popular thrill ride, soaring to dizzying heights and leading fans to believe they were witnessing a perfect alliance between the ruler of the universe and the leader of Earth. Yet, in mere seconds, they plummeted to the ground with G-force acceleration, leaving behind a trail of chaos and a stunned global audience.
This public spat, which included criticisms of legislation, accusations of ingratitude, and even the revelation of the “Epstein list,” was as riveting as the climactic finale of a soap opera.
Further Reading: Musk’s Explosive Revelations
Musk’s shocking disclosures: Trump is listed among the “###” wealthy on Epstein’s sex offender list, which the White House has deliberately concealed.
A Scripted Drama
However, if we put on our skeptical glasses and sift through the social media debris, we discover that the script for this drama was written long ago. This was not an accident but a foregone conclusion. The core of this narrative revolves around three key terms: Position, Personality, and Damned Business Profits.
1. Position: Two Versions of Freedom
What initially drew these two together? On the surface, they both waved the banner of “freedom,” as if defending the last bastion of human civilization. Yet, the freedom they espoused represented two entirely incompatible operating systems.
Musk’s freedom is a Silicon Valley elite version of libertarianism. He seeks “absolute freedom of speech,” ideally turning his X platform into a lawless, algorithm-driven digital realm. This approach saves on costs for human moderation and attracts all the outcasts banished by mainstream platforms—traffic equals money, so why not?
Simultaneously, he desires the freedom from government regulations, wishing to be left alone regarding emissions from his factories, the accidents involving his self-driving systems, and the timely launches of his rockets. In short, Musk’s freedom is: “You give me money (government contracts, subsidies), and leave me alone.”
This reflects a kind of technocratic arrogance, proclaiming, “I understand better than you politicians, so the world should follow my rules.”
In contrast, Trump’s freedom is a nationalistic brand of freedom infused with a cult of personality. His “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) agenda is not about liberating individuals but about freeing the “nation” from all the “bad deals,” “globalists,” and “deep state” shackles he denounces.
In this narrative, true freedom stems from unwavering loyalty to the leader. If you are loyal to Trump, you are a free patriot; if you question him, you are an enemy of the people, a target for liberation. Trump’s freedom is gang-like: the boss calls the shots, and the underlings chant in agreement.
These two fundamentally opposing concepts of freedom were initially able to unite temporarily against a common enemy (for instance, the “woke culture” or “leftist communities” they both criticized).
However, when Trump’s “Great and Beautiful Act” targeted the electric vehicle subsidies that Musk relied on, this facade of peace shattered instantly.
2. Personality: Two Suns in the Same Solar System
Let us temporarily set aside lofty political ideals; at its core, this is a century-long showdown between two narcissistic personalities. This isn’t politics; it’s not that grand—it’s two individuals vying for the biggest, brightest spotlight on Earth.
Trump, a natural political performer, is so obsessed with power and the limelight that it has become a physiological need. His world is a concentric circle centered around himself, with everyone else revolving around him like planets. He constantly requires praise and loyalty to affirm his existence. Once anyone attempts to share his spotlight or dares to question his brilliance, they instantly transform from a best ally into the worst loser in history.
His threat to cancel Tesla and SpaceX contracts isn’t a well-considered national policy; it’s akin to a mob boss telling a disobedient underling, “I see you don’t understand who the boss is.”
And Musk? He is the tech savior, a real-life Tony Stark living in a “Iron Man” story. He genuinely believes he is single-handedly saving humanity, whether by creating an electric vehicle ecosystem, combating global warming, or developing Starlink to prevent global internet outages, or even working on Neuralink to connect your brain to the internet.
His messianic complex makes it intolerable for him to be subordinate to anyone. He could temporarily ally with Trump because, at that time, Trump could offer political protection for his business empire. But to expect him to bow down? No way.
His revelation of the “Epstein list” is a classic Musk maneuver: chaotic, uncontrollable, extremely high-risk, yet capable of seizing everyone’s attention in an instant, reclaiming the narrative control for himself. He isn’t assisting anyone; he’s declaring, “The rules of this planet should be defined by me.”
Thus, the essence of this farce is two stars attempting to squeeze into the same solar system. One believes it is the political center of the universe, while the other considers itself the technological brain of the universe.
Their friendship was based merely on a “temporary non-destruction” of each other—a terrifying balance. Once that balance was disrupted, all that remained was a life-and-death struggle over “who occupies the center stage.”
3. Business Profits: Feelings Hurt Money
Let’s return to the most mundane and truthful aspect: money.
Politics is abstract, slogans are false; only the numbers etched on balance sheets represent the true reality that these billionaires care about.
For Musk, the core of this battle is survival. His business empire, particularly Tesla, is largely built upon government policy’s lifeblood.
Electric vehicle subsidies, carbon trading, and government space launch contracts are all tangible financial resources. Trump’s “Great and Beautiful Act” directly choked his financial lifeline, posing a “survival threat” in the business world.
His choice to publicly sever ties was less about ideals and more a meticulously calculated business gamble. His wager was that the strategic importance of SpaceX and Starlink to U.S. national security had grown to a level where Trump wouldn’t dare take real action against him. He used this to convey a message to everyone in Washington: “I am too big to fail; anger me, and we all go down together.”
Simultaneously, breaking with Trump could help Tesla shed some of the “redneck driver” image associated with southern U.S. buyers, while re-appealing to environmentally conscious consumers who oppose Trump.
For Trump, this is also a politically safe business venture. He can paint Musk as an “ungrateful liberal elite,” seamlessly integrating this into his narrative against the deep state and vested interests.
He could tell his supporters, “Look! This so-called genius turns against people as soon as he doesn’t get government money! He’s no different from those Washington crocs!”
This not only solidifies his base but also serves as a warning to other entrepreneurs: cross me, and you’ll regret it!
Conclusion
Tesla’s stock plummeting? That only proves that “crossing Trump leads to a bad end,” which is precisely the promotional effect he wants to see.
Ultimately, this breakup drama is just a business negotiation broadcasted live on social media. Musk is defending his subsidies and contracts, while Trump is solidifying his power and prestige. Every insult they hurled at each other serves as bullets aimed at each other’s stock prices and approval ratings.
In conclusion, how could one expect this drama to have a conclusion? The relationship between Musk and Trump has never been built on trust or friendship but rather on naked self-interest and a balance of power. When interests diverge and personalities clash, a fallout is merely a matter of time.
Conversely, as long as both parties can renegotiate their interests, they could publicly kiss and make up.
They are like two giant babies fighting in a sandbox, except their sandbox is the Earth, and their toys are rockets, social media, and state machinery.
As for who wins or loses? Perhaps it’s significant to them, but for us, the real question is: when power and wealth become this concentrated, how much real weight remains in the concepts of “democracy” and “freedom”?
