[MuskeuXTeureompeu]⑤The Beginning and End of Bromance
How did Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, and Donald Trump, the President-elect of the United States, become 'first buddies'? Musk, who accompanies Trump to various events and flaunts their friendship, is so close to the Trump family that he is called 'uncle' by Trump's granddaughter, Kai Trump. Although they now boast an inseparable friendship, their relationship was not always close from the start. The two ambitious figures, each with distinct personalities and strong opinions, have had several major and minor conflicts since their first meeting.
The Rollercoaster Relationship of Musk & Trump
Their connection dates back eight years. During the 2016 presidential election, Musk supported former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He gave a harsh assessment of Trump, saying he was "not the kind of personality that would have a positive impact on America." Trump, in turn, shot back at Musk, calling him "worthless without government subsidies."
Their first meeting took place in December 2016.
Unlike former President Barack Obama, who frequently visited Silicon Valley and entertained tech executives, Trump took a confrontational stance toward the tech industry during his campaign. After the election, Trump invited the heads of big tech companies such as Apple, Facebook, Google, Amazon, and Microsoft (MS) to Trump Tower to ease tensions, and Musk was on the guest list. They met several times afterward, and Musk eventually joined the White House Economic Advisory Council during Trump's first administration.
However, the reconciliation mood between them did not last long. When Trump withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement in 2017, Musk resigned from the advisory council in protest, and the distance between them grew again.
Musk’s Twitter Acquisition and Trump’s Return
The awkward silence between them was broken by Trump. In 2020, he appeared on CNBC and praised Musk, saying, "Tesla has surpassed Ford and General Motors in corporate value, and that credit goes to Musk," calling him "one of our great geniuses." During the pandemic, when Musk clashed with California health authorities over the closure of Tesla factories, Trump sided with him.
Musk did not forget this favor. When Trump was identified as the instigator of the U.S. Capitol riot in 2021 and his Twitter account was permanently suspended, Musk stepped in as a savior. After acquiring Twitter in 2022, Musk put the decision to restore Trump’s account to a public vote and restored it based on the popular vote.
Even then, the tension between them had not completely disappeared. When Walter Isaacson, who wrote Musk’s biography, asked, "If the other result had come out, would you have continued to block Trump?" Musk replied, "Yes." He added, "I’m not a fan of Trump. He is destructive. He’s the world champion of nonsense."
The friction between Musk and Trump did not end there. In July 2022, at a campaign rally, Trump accused Musk of saying he voted for him in the past but recently denying ever voting Republican, calling him a "bullshit artist." Musk fired back, saying, "I don’t dislike Trump, but I think it’s time for him to retire from politics."
However, such exchanges were not enough to completely separate the two. The following year, while traveling along the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas and broadcasting live, Musk tweeted his agreement with Trump’s call for stricter illegal immigration controls. Also, in July this year, after Trump was shot at a rally and clenched his fist with a strong impression, Musk’s support for him grew even firmer. Currently, Musk’s role for Trump goes beyond that of a mere 'major donor.' He appears in family photos of Trump, and is called 'uncle' by Trump’s granddaughter Kai.
However, in U.S. political and business circles, given the many ups and downs in their relationship, there is significant speculation that if they become entangled in irreconcilable interests, they could revert to their previous antagonistic relationship. U.S. media outlet Vox Media assessed their relationship, saying, "We don’t think they will remain friends for a long time," and "Even if they get through this year safely, Musk will leave a huge impression on the Trump administration."
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