Recently, a dramatic scene occurred at the White House cabinet meeting when Elon Musk appeared uninvited. This in itself was eye-catching, but what was even more shocking was Trump's cold comment: 'He can sit here only because I happen to like him.' This brief yet contemptuous remark instantly brought the meeting's atmosphere to freezing point, thoroughly exposing the subtle yet tense relationship between the two in the public eye.
Looking back, Musk and Trump were once tightly bound allies of interest. At the beginning of this year, when Trump took office, he appointed Musk as the head of the 'Government Efficiency Department', granting him great trust and power. Musk lived up to expectations, confidently promising to cut $1 trillion in government spending, and for a time, this collaboration between political and business giants drew widespread attention and was viewed as a bold attempt to change the operational structure of the U.S. government.
However, the ideal is rich, but reality is incredibly skinny. Due to Musk's status as a 'special employee', his tenure in the White House has been limited from the very beginning, with a deadline that can only end by the end of May at the latest. Although there have been reports that Trump wanted to amend relevant legislation just to retain the talented Musk, recent signs indicate that this plan may have long since faltered and become a mirage.
In fact, the differences between Musk and Trump had long been evident, not a matter of one day. Especially on the issue of 'reciprocal tariffs', their contradictions intensified, with a palpable tension. The tariff policies promoted by Trump were like a giant rock thrown into the lake of the global economy, causing huge waves and creating a tremendous impact on Musk's business empire, which is heavily reliant on global supply chains, such as Tesla and SpaceX. Tesla's stock price plummeted by 6% within a week, and Musk's personal wealth evaporated by over 720 billion RMB. Faced with such a severe situation, Musk repeatedly persuaded Trump to change the tariff strategy, but Trump remained obstinate and unmoved. In desperation, Musk no longer held back, not only angrily criticized Trump's advisor Navarro, calling him 'dumber than a bag of bricks', but even the Vice President was not spared from his public accusations. This series of fierce actions acted like a bombshell, stirring up a storm in the political arena.
Musk's ruthlessly 'rebellion' has put the conservative circle in an extremely awkward position. Ackman, the hedge fund giant who once stood in the same camp as Musk, has also begun to waver, stating that Trump's new policies may trigger an economic recession, bluntly saying, 'We did not vote for this outcome.' This undoubtedly reflects, from the side, that the rift between Musk and Trump has become so great that it is hard to repair, and the two are drifting further apart, with their once-allied relationship on the brink.
At the same time, the goals of the 'Government Efficiency Department' have also significantly shrunk. From the initially ambitious promise of a $2 trillion reduction plan, it has plummeted to just $150 billion. Such a massive gap ruthlessly exposes Musk's serious underestimation of the complexities of government operations. The 'first principles' he has always advocated have encountered obstacles everywhere in the intricate and intertwined political reality, leaving him with no place to apply them. He even had a fierce argument with Secretary of State Rubio, with both sides standing their ground, further exacerbating his isolation and helplessness within the government.
In terms of political influence, Musk is gradually losing his past glory and showing a downward trend. The conservative judge he fully supported in Wisconsin ultimately suffered a crushing defeat, which undoubtedly cemented his embarrassing role as 'box office poison'. Now, some Republicans view him as a political burden to be avoided, and the once-glorious Musk is finding it increasingly difficult on the political stage.
From the initial high-profile cooperation to the current estrangement, the relationship between Musk and Trump has taken a nosedive, and a public break seems just a matter of time. The awkward scene at this White House meeting may be the prelude to the collapse of this 'billionaire political marriage', signaling the end of an era and adding more uncertainty to future political directions.