It started out like a scene from a Silicon Valley-meets-Washington movie — the world’s richest man cozying up to the world’s most powerful soon-to-be leader.
Elon Musk and Donald Trump weren’t just making headlines — they were rewriting the playbook on political alliances.
Their relationship, at first, looked like a mutual admiration club.
Musk, once joking he loved Trump “as much as a straight man can love another man,” quickly became a constant presence around Mar-a-Lago after Trump’s unexpected landslide victory.
He even brought his son, “Little X,” along for the ride and rented a cottage on the property to be close to the action.
Musk Joins the Inner Circle
Trump appreciated the support and brought Musk into his inner decision-making circle.
Musk attended key meetings, joined calls with foreign leaders, and even had a say in vetting cabinet appointments.
But not everyone in Trump’s team was thrilled.
Some aides grew annoyed with Musk’s eagerness to influence picks and policy decisions — especially as he began pushing his own candidates for top roles.
Still, Trump enjoyed Musk’s company.
“Elon won’t leave. I can’t get rid of him. Until I don’t like him,” he quipped to Republicans after the election.
Cabinet Battles and Public Proposals
Musk didn’t hesitate to make his opinions public.
He even asked social media followers to weigh in on Trump’s Secretary of Treasury pick.
He preferred Howard Lutnick over Scott Bessent, labeling Bessent “business-as-usual” — the very thing Musk claimed was bankrupting America.
Though Musk lobbied hard, Trump went with Bessent.
To appease Musk, he gave him control over a government efficiency project, with Elon promising to save $2 trillion.
It didn’t go smoothly.
Clashing with Washington Veterans
Musk’s aggressive approach rubbed many officials the wrong way.
He tried to fire staff and push policies, which didn’t sit well with department heads like Marco Rubio and Sean Duffy.
One particularly heated moment involved Bessent and Musk shouting at each other over an IRS nominee, with insiders describing the scene as “quite loud.”
Even as Musk clashed with leaders over air traffic control, personnel, and spending cuts, Trump kept backing him publicly.
At one cabinet meeting, Trump jokingly asked if anyone wanted Musk gone.
Nobody objected — at least not out loud.
Musk’s AI Dreams Hit a Wall
Beyond personnel, Musk had grand ideas for transforming the federal government using his AI venture, xAI.
He envisioned streamlining operations and boosting his company’s AI capabilities by tapping into federal data.
But Trump was already working with other tech moguls — including Sam Altman, Musk’s former ally turned rival.
In a major blow, Trump announced a $500 billion AI project with Altman, dubbed “Stargate,” leaving Musk out of the deal entirely.
Musk wasn’t happy and voiced his frustration online, claiming the project was underfunded.
He even tried to block a UAE partnership tied to Stargate but failed.
Policy Setbacks and Growing Friction
More disappointments followed.
A Republican-backed bill Musk opposed — the “Big Beautiful Bill” — included a ten-year freeze on state-level tech regulations.
Musk saw it as a gift to Altman’s AI ambitions.
Musk also pushed to replace the FAA’s system with Starlink, but lawmakers didn’t bite.
Though he claimed not to care about EV subsidies, he wasn’t pleased when the same bill repealed electric vehicle tax credits.
The Final Straw: China Briefing Controversy
What truly fractured the relationship was a classified Pentagon briefing about a potential conflict with China — and Musk’s alleged involvement.
When Trump learned about it, he was furious.
“What the f**k is Elon doing there? Make sure he doesn’t go,” he reportedly snapped, according to Axios.
Trump then posted online, insisting China wouldn’t even be discussed in Musk’s briefing.
Insiders say that moment marked a clear shift.
Trump’s faith in Musk started to wane, and while the president didn’t cut ties immediately, the mood inside the White House changed.
A Golden Goodbye
Despite the tension, Trump made sure Musk’s formal departure as a presidential advisor after 130 days felt cordial.
Musk received public praise for trying to cut waste, and Trump even presented him with a symbolic golden key to the White House.
When asked if he would still advise the president, Musk said, “Of course. I’m at the president’s service.”
But just six days later, he was venting on social media — the latest in a long line of brilliant minds and powerful leaders who just couldn’t make it work.
What Comes Next?
Musk and Trump may have started out as unlikely partners bound by shared ambition, but in the end, egos, policy clashes, and competing visions for America’s future drove them apart.
Whether their paths will cross again — in collaboration or competition — remains to be seen.
But one thing’s for sure: the Musk-Trump era was as chaotic as it was fascinating.