WASHINGTON — The ongoing political dynamic between President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk has raised questions about their mutual attraction to the spotlight. In a recent joint interview on the Fox News Channel, both men expressed their admiration for each other, dismissing media narratives that suggest a rift may be forming between them.
During the interview, Trump often leaned back while Fox’s Sean Hannity praised Musk, aiming to counter the Democratic portrayal of Musk as a destructive, unaccountable force undermining civil society through significant cuts from the Department of Government Efficiency. The camaraderie between Trump and Musk was evident as they sometimes seemed to finish one another’s sentences, resembling a buddy comedy rather than a typical political partnership.
A historical overview reveals that Trump and Musk’s relationship hasn’t always been so friendly. Trump admitted to Hannity that their acquaintance was relatively new, mentioning, “I knew him a little bit through the White House originally,” implying that they were not close beforehand. Musk, born in South Africa and a U.S. citizen since 2002, has a fortune surpassing $400 billion. His extensive business empire includes X, Tesla, SpaceX, and Starlink.
Notably, Musk supported Democrats in the past, having voted for Joe Biden in 2020 and Hillary Clinton in 2016. Recently, Musk has criticized regulations affecting Tesla in California, prompting a move of the company’s headquarters to Texas in 2021. His disillusionment with Biden has grown, especially due to the president’s labor policies often clashing with Tesla’s business model. Historically, they clashed over climate change and federal subsidies, with Trump once deriding Musk as a “bulls— artist.” Musk initially backed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in the Republican primaries but switched allegiance to Trump after a cordial meeting in Florida last March.
Trump and Musk’s partnership brings mutual benefits. The friendship was further solidified during a recent Saudi-backed investment meeting in Miami, where Trump hailed Musk’s contributions. “He’s doing a great job,” Trump declared to the audience, praising Musk’s intelligence while acknowledging that he’s not without faults.
Musk has been instrumental in helping Trump realize campaign promises, particularly regarding dismantling what Trump refers to as the “deep state.” Musk articulated a vision of overcoming a bureaucratic structure that’s resistant to the president’s agenda, asserting that there is a bureaucratic struggle as they try to restore “democracy and the will of the people.” The partnership offers potential advantages for Musk as well, as both SpaceX and Tesla rely on essential government contracts and regulatory support that a potential Trump administration might provide, while reducing scrutiny related to vehicle safety and automated driving claims.
Despite their assertions of loyalty, Trump’s history raises doubts about the longevity of such relationships. Many individuals close to Trump have ended up as vocal critics. For instance, former Vice President Mike Pence accused Trump of putting his family at risk during the January 6 Capitol riot, and ex-Attorney General Bill Barr publicly denied Trump’s claims of election fraud. Even loyalists like Michael Cohen eventually faced dire consequences for their involvement.
While Trump and Musk maintain they are committed to each other, Trump’s tendencies to feel overshadowed have previously affected his relationships. A recent remark about Musk’s prominent cover in Time magazine suggested that Trump remains sensitive to perceptions of his prominence. Nevertheless, Trump is known for his fierce loyalty towards those who remain steadfast by his side. Some of his former aides have returned to work with him, indicating a complexity in his interpersonal dynamics.
As of now, their relationship appears genuine. Throughout the interview, both men expressed admiration, with Trump stating, “He’s an amazing person,” and Musk responding, “I love the president.” This bond was highlighted by Hannity’s remark that it felt like he was interviewing two brothers, reinforcing the notion that, for the time being, they have forged a considerable camaraderie.
