Elon Musk’s political misadventure ends in public ruin

The public fallout between tech billionaire Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump was not entirely unexpected. Many had predicted the alliance would not last. But few foresaw the split unfolding in such a dramatic fashion, laced with harsh rhetoric and open humiliation. Once again, it confirms a timeless political truth: there are no permanent friends in politics, only permanent interests.

As the world’s richest man, Musk was once an outspoken supporter of the Democratic Party’s progressive causes. But in last year’s US presidential election, he dramatically switched allegiance to the Republican Party, becoming Trump’s most generous donor. His awkward leap — arms raised and belly exposed — onstage at a Pennsylvania campaign rally became a symbol of their short-lived camaraderie, much like the image of a bullet grazing Trump’s ear.

According to Musk, his political pivot was catalysed by the gender transition of his transgender daughter, Vivian, which turned him vehemently against Democratic “woke” culture.

Still, many observers remained sceptical about the longevity of the Musk-Trump alliance, predicting a rupture within months. That prediction has now materialised, roughly half a year in — right on schedule.

The immediate trigger appears to be the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill”, which passed the House with a narrow Republican majority and is now under Senate review. The multi-trillion-dollar package represents a significant expansion of federal spending, completely undermining Musk’s push to slash government expenditures — a mission he had championed with full force. More specifically, the bill includes provisions that threaten Musk’s core interests, such as cuts to electric vehicle subsidies.

Beyond these tangible concerns, the split was also driven by deeper, more structural tensions — not just differences in partnership expectations and ideology, but also a striking similarity in personality.

To Musk, the collaboration with Trump was one of equals, not that of a subordinate and superior. Many see Musk as an idealist who entered politics, not for material gain but to disrupt America’s political culture. His acquisition of Twitter (now X) was motivated by this vision. Although not a formal federal employee, he functioned as a special adviser, leading a radical reform unit aimed at reducing government inefficiency. From the outset, Musk had already taken aim at Trump loyalists such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, causing internal friction. At the height of his influence, Musk seemed to outshine Trump, prompting headlines that questioned if Elon Musk was the real president.

But to Trump, Musk remained a tool, regardless of his wealth — a hired hand leading the Department of Government Efficiency without a salary. In Trump’s eyes, it was a win-win: Musk could do the dirty work for free. Perhaps Trump even thought Musk was the world’s biggest fool. However, once Musk began targeting Trump’s inner circle, Trump could no longer sit idly by. The final straw came when Musk realised Trump saw him not as a partner, but as a disposable operative, especially when policy decisions began harming Musk’s business empire.

Their ideological differences also ran deep. Apart from a shared disdain for progressive politics — particularly DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) — they diverged on nearly everything else, including high-skilled immigration, climate change and globalisation. Musk dreamt of colonising Mars with rockets and code, while Trump aimed to restore American greatness through nationalist populism. These are fundamentally incompatible worldviews; prolonged collaboration would only breed alienation. When that point was reached, Musk had no choice but to walk away.

Yet it may be their personalities, more than ideology or positioning, that made the rupture inevitable. Both are strong-willed businessmen, former and current CEOs who are accustomed to absolute authority. Both are also known for their autocratic style. Musk is infamous for firing employees without warning, demanding total loyalty and punishing dissent. Trump’s first term in office was marked by a revolving door of staff, dismissed for minor disagreements or failing to obey unreasonable commands. Both men exhibit a level of self-confidence bordering on narcissism. Musk sees himself as a prophet guiding humanity to a multi-planet future, and Trump believes he is the greatest president in American history, even interpreting his survival of his recent assassination attempt as divine destiny.

When two such dominant personalities collide, it is no surprise that their alliance proved unsustainable. Musk might have initially compromised, but he would eventually leave. After all, a mountain cannot accommodate two tigers.

These three dynamics — divergent positioning, conflicting ideologies, and a shared, overpowering ego — interacted in the background, steadily eroding their relationship. The “One Big Beautiful Bill” merely served as the flashpoint. In another era, with fewer communication channels, this conflict might have played out quietly or been mediated behind the scenes. But in the age of social media today, in which both men control massive online platforms, their frustrations were instantly amplified.

Their public clash has once again exposed the raw nature of American politics. The fusion of political and commercial interests, once carefully concealed, is now out in the open, naked and unashamed. The public can only watch, powerless to intervene. Yet in this drama, Musk is arguably the bigger loser. His DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) crusade alienated the Democrats and much of Wall Street. Now, by turning on Trump and the MAGA movement, he has lost his Republican base as well. Scorned by both political camps and faced with the prospect of policy setbacks for his companies, Musk finds himself in a classic lose-lose situation. 

Perhaps he has come to realise this, given his recent attempts at reconciliation and statements that he regrets some of the posts he made about Trump. However, it remains to be seen if the two men will ultimately be able to make peace with each other. 

This saga serves as a cautionary tale for would-be political entrepreneurs. Business and politics play by different rules. For those eager to cross the line from boardroom to Cabinet room, it is best to proceed with caution, or risk losing both reputation and control.

Related: Trump-Musk joint reforms and the American constitutional crisis | Can the Trump-Musk alliance win the world? | From VOA to X: How Trump and Musk redefined US soft power