Musk vs Trump: Clash of the Titans

Once political allies, America’s most mercurial mogul and its most polarising politician are now locked in a love-hate spiral, with grave implications for power, policy and perception.

For a while, they were the odd couple reshaping America. One was the real-estate tycoon-turned-president who thumbed his way to populist power; the other, the self-anointed techno-king who electrified everything from cars to rockets to online discourse. Donald Trump and Elon Musk once shared more than just a disdain for conventional elites. They also shared a mutual admiration, a love of provocation, and, crucially, overlapping political ambitions.

But now, the ‘bromance’ has curdled. What began as a difference of opinion has now escalated into a full-fledged public feud. The spat, more than two egos in collision, exposes deeper tensions within the Republican movement, the fragility of political alliances built on opportunism and the growing power (and peril) of billionaire influence in democratic politics.

Until recently, Musk appeared to be securely ensconced in the crest of Trumpian populism. He had opposed COVID lockdowns, voiced support for free speech absolutism (especially after acquiring Twitter, now X), and most consequentially backing Trump for his second presidency last year. His sway among Silicon Valley libertarians and suburban contrarians gave Trump another channel into tech-savvy conservative circles.

What brought the rift into sharper focus was Trump’s recent campaign rhetoric on tariffs. In May, he proposed a blanket 10 percent tariff on all imports, rising to 60 percent on goods from China.

For Musk, who manufactures Teslas in Shanghai and relies on global supply chains, this spells trouble. “A 60 percent tariff would hurt the average American,” Musk posted on X. Trump’s team brushed off the criticism, accusing Musk of caring more about profits than patriotism.

The President has also taken aim at electric vehicle (EV) subsidies, hinting that he would scrap Biden’s green energy incentives from which Tesla, Musk’s flagship, heavily benefits from.

The Trump-Musk fallout also highlights a growing conundrum in American politics of how to handle billionaires who act like political parties unto themselves. Musk, with his nearly unmoderated influence over X, has become a singular force in political discourse. His posts can tank stocks, shape narratives or ignite international rows.

His critics argue that he is too erratic, veering from libertarianism to petulant authoritarianism. But for many on the right, he remains a symbol of resistance against woke capital and a mogul who dares to bite the hand of liberal elites. That’s precisely what made him valuable to Trump.

Now that the alliance has fractured, Republicans find themselves in an awkward spot. Some conservative donors still court Musk. Others worry he is too mercurial to rely on.

The wider danger is that the feud turns transactional governance into vengeance-driven policy. Trump has long blended the personal with the political, viewing loyalty as a currency. Musk, too, is not above using his companies and platforms as weapons.

However, when all is said and done, there are signs a chance this row will fizzle out. After all, both men are masters of performance and understand the value of public spectacle. Some insiders say the feud is more about theatre than substance.

In fact, just last week, Musk was baying for Trump’s impeachment. This week, he’s back to waving flags, reposting administration talking points, and digitally embracing Trump’s top lieutenants. In the space of mere days, the erratic courtship between America’s most powerful political figure and its most influential businessman has ricocheted from public recrimination to cautious reconciliation.

The latest turn in this tumultuous relationship came amid rising tensions in Los Angeles. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers launched a series of controversial raids in the city, prompting widespread protests and sporadic violence. President Trump, in characteristically tough rhetoric, condemned the unrest and took aim at Democratic leaders in California.

Elon Musk, who has long supported hardline immigration policies, found a familiar ideological foothold. Having spent the early part of the week accusing Trump of being linked to the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein, and calling for his impeachment on X (formerly Twitter), Musk promptly deleted those posts over the weekend. In their place came a flurry of retweets and flag emojis echoing White House messaging.

He reposted a Truth Social statement from Trump calling on California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to apologise to residents. Musk even re-followed Stephen Miller, Trump’s hawkish immigration adviser, whom he had unfollowed just days earlier.

Despite the softening of tone, Musk remains sceptical of Trump’s domestic policy. He continues to oppose the president’s sweeping “One, Big, Beautiful Bill,” a legislative Frankenstein that combines tax cuts, infrastructure pledges and defence outlays with a few populist sops to the cultural right.

One thing the conflict does reveal how brittle modern political alliances have become. In a landscape dominated by personal brands and online fandoms, relationships once built on ideology are now dictated by social media algorithms, market incentives, and momentary slights. If America is to navigate a turbulent world, it must rely less on the whims of individuals. Neither Trump nor Musk should be allowed to dictate national priorities on impulse.

Trump seeks to reassert control over a party he believes he built. Musk wants to remain the unchallenged visionary of the tech-political landscape. Both claim to be acting in America’s best interest. Each man sees in the other a mirror: powerful, mercurial, self-invented. But they forget that mirrors can crack.

(The author is a researcher and expert in foreign affairs. Views personal.)