When two gigantic billionaire egos get together in apparent mutual admiration, it is not far-fetched to expect a controversial split down the line.
The richest person in the world, Elon Musk, and the president of the United States, Donald Trump, had a very public parting of ways marked by a nasty exchange of social media posts – over X and Truth Social, respectively.
During the campaign and at least during the first months of the second Trump presidency, Musk was given extraordinary powers, as head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency. In those heady days, Musk was often seen at the West Wing, sometimes even with his five-year-old son. He told reporters he ate ice cream – caramel Haagen Daz, in particular — with the president
But just last week, Musk lashed out at Trump’s “big, beautiful” budget bill, calling it massive, outrageous, and pork-filled — a “disgusting abomination.” Just a few days after his exit from the administration, he also called his erstwhile best pal ungrateful, saying that Trump would not have won the presidency without his support. In response, Trump said Musk was losing his mind, adding that he was peeved because electric vehicles like the ones his company produces were not given tax credits in the new bill.
And then Musk accused Trump of being in the Epstein files – convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein who died by suicide in prison – and this was why the files were not being made public.
There’s an element of satisfaction in witnessing how the two former buddies are now disparaging each other on social media – if only the spat did not have disastrous consequences. It is also hilarious to see two supposedly enlightened big names fight it out like they were in elementary school.
Elsewhere in the world, any such unlikely – unholy — alliance should be always viewed with suspicion. It is improbable that larger-than-life individuals, living in privilege and used to being surrounded by sycophants, could magically find a common ground on which to unite for the common good. Those who believe that these partnerships could last or achieve something good will likely be disappointed. They are driven by their own interests, each secretly thinking they could outmaneuver the other.
The loser in this word war is neither Trump nor Musk, but people whose lives are upended by these impulsive decisions and utterances. Look at how aid to long-suffering countries, or support for research for a cure for cancer, or tariffs on products from different countries were affected just in the past months.
Ultimately they become pawns in a competition that would always be won by those who think everything is about them.
