Though the tech billionaire has quickly risen to the (self-titled) position of ‘first buddy,’ the relationship between two of the world’s most powerful men has not always been roses writes Mike Bedigan
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Intense, fast-paced dates between two of the world’s toughest men, Donald Trump and Elon Musk, arguably wouldn’t have been on many people’s bingo cards by 2024, given their previous history.
But it bloomed to end 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 potential end of Trump and Musk’s honeymoon (resources report that Trump is already “bored” with his wealthy friends), here’s a look back at their tumultuous relationship:
November 2016
In 2016, Musk wasn’t the biggest fan of his most productive, long-term friend, and publicly noted that Trump wasn’t worthy of running for the highest office in the land.
“I feel a little more convinced that he’s not the right person. He doesn’t seem to have the kind of character that reflects well on America,” the billionaire told CNBC at the time.
However, his skepticism did not appear to last long after Trump appointed him to an economic advisory board, along with Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, a month after Trump’s first election victory.
June 2017
The couple’s first professional date ended well.
Following Trump’s announcement about the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, Musk resigned as a member of the presidential advisory councils.
“Am departing presidential councils. Climate change is real. Leaving Paris is not good for America or the world,” Musk wrote on X, then-Twitter, and not yet under his ownership.
January 2022
Five years later, it was Trump who revived 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 boss was “one of our very smart 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
This complimentary attitude was short-lived, as six months later, Trump called Musk “another bull artist. “
Speaking about free speech at a rally in Anchorage, Alaska, Trump mused over Musk’s vow that he would buy the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, while promoting his own – the soon-to-be-infamous Truth Social.
“Elon is not going to buy Twitter… he said the other day ‘Oh, I’ve never voted for a Republican’. I said ‘I didn’t know that’. He told me he voted for me. So he’s another bulls*** artist.” Musk replied to a clip of the rally: “I don’t hate the man, but it’s time for Trump to hang up his hat & sail into the sunset.”
In a social media post, he claimed that Musk would have “knelt down and begged” if he had asked. “Lmaooo [laughs out loud],” Musk responded.
November 2022
In the end, Musk’s claims were not, as Trump claimed, “nonsense,” and Musk officially finalized the acquisition of the platform in October 2022.
It seemed as though the July remarks were forgiven or forgotten however, after Musk reinstated Trump’s account, reversing a ban that had kept Trump off the platform since the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6.
Musk made the announcement after holding a poll that asked Twitter users to click “yes” or “no” on whether Trump’s account should be reinstated. The “yes” vote won, with 51.8 percent. “The 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 those on immigration, speaking in favor of a border wall between the United States and Mexico, one of the policies most defended by the president-elect.
“We want a wall and we want to require other people to have minimal evidence to apply for asylum and be able to enter, like everyone else does. . . ” Musk wrote.
March 2024
Despite moving toward Trump, the billionaire tech boss was still publicly ambivalent in backing either party, announcing on X that he would not donate to a candidate in the presidential election.
July 2024
This attitude was temporarily replaced after the attempted assassination of Trump at a crusade rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Musk endorsed Trump as a candidate seconds after he was rushed off stage by secret service agents, and it was later reported that he said Musk would commit around $45 million a month to a new pro-Trump super PAC called America PAC.
August 2024
Musk hosted Trump on X for a “conversation” that turned into a marathon ramble reminiscent of the president-elect’s campaign rallies. During the chat he suggested that Trump should form a commission focused on “government efficiency” and appoint him to it.
Later that month he posted “I am willing to serve.”
October 2024
Musk made his first public appearance with Trump after the former president returned to Butler. Jumping to the level excitedly and wearing a black cap that read “Make America Great Again,” he told the audience, “As you can see, I’m just MAGA, I’m a dark MAGICIAN. “»
The billionaire later announced that he would donate $1 million a day to voters in swing states who signed a petition from his US PAC demanding free speech and the right to bear arms.
November 2024
Musk spent the night with Trump and other MAGA enthusiasts at the president-elect’s hotel in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, to witness the vote rollback and Republican landslide 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 teamed up for a coordinated but ultimately unsuccessful effort to tank a stopgap government spending bill from passing in Congress, leaving both Democrats and even Republicans exhausted with the growing political influence of the world’s wealthiest person.
The resulting considerations and the Tesla chief’s descriptions of “President Musk” led Trump to face the dynamics of his quotes head-on. “No, he will not assume the presidency,” Trump said in a speech. “That doesn’t happen. “
However, the couple remains inseparable. A New York Times report found that Musk has spent much of the last two months since the election renting a cabin for $2,000 a night on the grounds of the president-elect’s Florida residence, located just a few hundred yards from the main house.
But all may not be roses for long, with sources telling Mediate just before the New Year that Trump is now becoming “annoyed” with his “first buddy” following Musk’s public spat with other members of the MAGA hardcore over H1B visas.
“100 percent Trump is annoyed,” a source who worked on Trump’s re-election campaign told the outlet. “There’s a Chinese saying: ‘two tigers cannot live on one mountaintop.’”
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