#TrumpVsMusk An Unlikely Alliance

Musk and Trump formed a powerful but unlikely alliance, which led the tech billionaire to take a key position in the Trump government, with authority to cut budgets.

Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) became one of the most important news stories in Trump’s first 100 days, shutting down entire agencies and laying off thousands of public employees.

However, speculations about when and how the relationship between these two colossal personalities would eventually break down did not take long to emerge.

For a time, it seemed those predictions were mistaken.

Trump supported Musk even as his popularity waned, while facing government officials and becoming a liability in several key elections earlier this year.

Whenever a rift seemed imminent, Musk would appear in the Oval Office, in the Cabinet Room, or on a presidential flight aboard Air Force One to Mar-a-Lago.

When Musk’s 130 days as a "special government employee" ended last week, both had a friendly farewell in the Oval Office, with indications that Musk might return someday.

It can be stated with certainty that any invitation has been revoked.

"Elon and I had a great relationship," Trump said on Thursday, a notable comment given the use of the past tense.

The surprising announcement by Trump on Wednesday night regarding a new travel ban, additional sanctions against Harvard, and a government investigation into former President Joe Biden was believed to be attempts to divert attention from Musk's criticisms of the Republican budget law.

The White House and its allies in Congress seemed to take care not to further antagonize Musk after his previous comments.

Then Trump spoke and... that was that.