Former President Donald Trump has publicly reaffirmed his strained relationship with Elon Musk, stating that he is “not particularly” interested in reconciling with the tech billionaire. In a conversation with ABC News, Trump dismissed suggestions of a peacemaking phone call between the two, indicating a deepening rift that has captured political attention.
In an interview with Politico, Trump claimed that his relationship with Musk was “going very well, never done better.” This declaration stands in stark opposition to his ludicrously pessimistic attacks on Musk in recent weeks. The anti-first amendment sentiment soared on Twitter. Our recent series of blog posts on the topic detailed the escalating vitriol between the two powerhouses.
Hostility Towards Musk
On Friday, it sounded like Trump was digging in on going the other way—staying as far from Musk’s orbit as possible. He stated, “I’m not even thinking about Elon. He’s got a problem. The poor guy’s got a problem.” This comment represents a huge turn from his past rhetoric. It reveals broader shortcomings, chief among them that something like reconciliation just isn’t going to happen anytime soon.
On Thursday, Trump escalated his attacks on Musk on Twitter. That was the start of their estrangement. This extraordinary public dispute has drawn widespread media attention and raised alarm bells in political circles. Though these two figures work in altogether different worlds, each figure commands great power in his respective realm.
Economic Developments Amidst Political Turmoil
Despite this deepening rift, U.S. economy could not be in a more precarious position. The Department of Labor announced that the U.S. created only 139,000 jobs in May, a sharp decrease from the past few months. Many businesses are now grappling with uncertainties stemming from Trump’s ongoing trade war, which has raised questions about economic stability.
In answer to these economic worries, Trump just called an unusual meeting. Senior U.S. administration officials are expected to sit down Monday in London with a high-level Beijing delegation to continue the trade talks. This meeting would certainly help ease rising tensions and maybe even assuage the current trade war between Washington and Beijing.
Legal Matters and Controversies
Besides the rift with Musk, some new legal issues have occurred in the last week or so. Kilmar Ábrego García, who the Trump administration deported in error last March, came back to the U.S. on Friday. She is now under criminal indictment. This case has led to increased scrutiny of the conscious and unintended consequences of immigration policy and enforcement actions.
Enrique Tarrio, former chairman of the Proud Boys, isn’t just sitting on the sidelines. He’s already joined four other members in suing the federal government for violating their rights related to their convictions stemming from the January 6 Capitol insurrection. These recent developments make the political playing field a lot less simple. The country is undeniably still working through deep and historic legal and societal challenges.