Although the tech billionaire temporarily rose to the (eponymous) position of “first friend,” the relationship between two of the world’s toughest men was not rosy, writes Mike Bedigan.
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The intense and fast-paced bromance between two of the world’s toughest men, Donald Trump and Elon Musk, probably wouldn’t have been on many people’s bingo cards by 2024, given their previous history.
But it flourished at the end of the year.
In recent months, the tech billionaire has become the president-elect’s “first friend,” but their relationship hasn’t been rosy. Before cross-rallies, praise and nearby homes, the two men had their share of public disagreements and even exchanged insults.
As rumors swirl about the possible end of Trump and Musk’s honeymoon (sources report that Trump is already “bored” with their rich frill), here’s a look at their tumultuous relationship:
November 2016
In 2016, Musk wasn’t the biggest fan of his most productive long-term friend, and he publicly noted that Trump wasn’t worthy of running for the country’s highest office.
“I feel a little more confident that he’s the right person. He doesn’t seem to have the kind of character that reflects America well,” the billionaire told CNBC at the time.
However, his skepticism doesn’t seem to last long after, through Trump, he was appointed to an economic advisory council, along with Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, a month after Trump’s first election victory.
June 2017
The couple’s first professional date ended well.
After Trump’s announcement that the U.S. would be withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement, Musk tendered his resignation from his positions on the presidential advisory boards.
“I am leaving the presidential councils. Climate renewal is real. Leaving Paris is smart for America or the world,” Musk wrote on X and then on Twitter, which he still owns.
January 2022
Five years later, it was Trump who reignited the quotes after describing Musk as one of the world’s “great geniuses” and comparing him to Thomas Edison.
The president-elect told CNBC that the SpaceX chief is “one of our very wise people. “
Anticipating the present, Trump went on to say that Musk is not only smart about electric cars, but “he’s also smart about rockets. “I’ve never noticed that engines pass without wings, without anything, and they land. “, he said.
July 2022
That complimentary attitude was short lived, as just six months later Trump referred to Musk as “another bulls*** artist.”
In an informal speech at a rally in Anchorage, Alaska, Trump spoke about Musk’s promise to buy the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, while selling his own, the notorious and long-term Truth Social.
“Elon is not going to buy Twitter… he said the other day, ‘Oh, I never voted for a Republican. I said, “I didn’t know. ” He told me that he had voted for me. So he’s a shitty artist. Musk responded to a clip from the rally: “I don’t hate that man, but it’s time for Trump to hang up his hat and sail off into the sunset. »
In a social media post, he claimed that Musk would have “knelt down and pleaded” if he had asked for it. “Lmaooo [laughs out loud],” Musk replied.
November 2022
Musk’s claims are not, as Trump claimed, “nonsense,” and Musk officially finalized his acquisition of the platform in October 2022.
However, it appeared that the July comments had been forgiven or forgotten, after Musk reinstated Trump’s account, reversing a ban that had kept Trump off the platform since his visit to the U. S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
Musk made the announcement after conducting a poll asking Twitter users to click “yes” or “no” to find out if Trump’s account is reinstated. The “yes” vote won with 51. 8 percent. People have spoken. Trump will be reinstated. Vox Populi, Vox Dei,” he wrote.
September 2023
Musk has begun to align himself more with Trump’s policies, adding immigration policies, by coming out in favor of a border wall between the United States and Mexico, one of the policies most defended by the president-elect.
“We actually do need a wall and we need to require people to have some shred of evidence to claim asylum to enter, as everyone is doing that…” Musk wrote.
March 2024
Despite having grown closer to Trump, the billionaire tech boss still remained publicly ambivalent about his involvement in either party, pronouncing on X that he would not donate to any presidential candidate.
July 2024
This attitude was temporarily replaced after Trump’s assassination attempt at a crusade rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Musk endorsed Trump as a candidate seconds after being kicked out of the picture by Secret Service agents, and later reported saying Musk would dedicate about $45 million a month to a new pro-Trump super PAC called America PAC.
August 2024
Musk hosted Trump in X for a “conversation” that turned into a marathon reminiscent of the president-elect’s crusades. During the conversation, he asked Trump to create a commission focused on “government efficiency” and appoint him to that commission.
Later that month, he posted “I’m Fit to Serve. “
October 2024
Musk made his first public appearance with Trump after the former president returned to Butler. Jumping onto the level with excitement and wearing a black cap that said “Make America Great Again,” he told the audience, “As you can see, I’m just MAGA, I’m a dark MAGA. ” »
The billionaire later announced that he would give away $1 million a day to voters in swing states who have signed a petition from his America PAC to support free speech and the right to bear arms.
November 2024
Musk spent the evening with Trump and other MAGA die-hards at the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida to watch the vote returns and the sweeping Republican victory.
Shortly after, Trump announced that Musk and his former presidential candidate rival Vivek Ramaswamy would lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE – a tongue-in-cheek reference to an internet meme favored by Musk), which will operate as an independent advisory group to cut government spending and streamline bureaucracy.
Later that month Trump traveled to Texas to witness SpaceX’s Starship launch alongside Musk – who now refers to himself as “First Buddy” – with reports also emerging that the pair spend “almost every day together.” Musk is also reported to have sat in on and even held talks with foreign leaders.
December 2024
The dynamic duo came together for a coordinated but ultimately unsuccessful effort to prevent passage of a transitional government spending bill in Congress, leaving Democrats and even Republicans exhausted by the growing political influence of the world’s richest person.
The resulting considerations and descriptions of the Tesla boss as “President Musk” finally led Trump to confront the dynamics of their dating. “No, he will not assume the presidency,” Trump said in a speech. “That’s not happening. “
However, the pair still appear to be somewhat inseparable. A report from The New York Times revealed that Musk spent much of the last two months since the election renting a $2,000-per-night cottage on the grounds of the president-elect’s Florida residence – which is located just several hundred feet from the main house.
But all may not be rosy for long, as resources told Mediate just before the New Year that Trump is now “upset” with his “first friend” following Musk’s public feud with other band members. from hardcore MAGA about H1B visas.
“Trump is 100 percent upset,” a source who worked on Trump’s re-election campaign told the outlet. “There is a Chinese saying: “Two tigers live on the top of a mountain. »
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