Donald Trump and Elon Musk are inseparable, but their relationship is already sparking

UNITED STATES – It's an image that American viewers are accustomed to: a new test flight of the Starship rocket from SpaceX, Elon Musk's company, broadcast live on news channels. But for this launch on Tuesday, November 19 from Boca Chica, Texas, the televisions this time used the technique of « split screen ». A screen cut in two, to show two shows: on one side, the space launcher itself – which has finished its course in the water –, on the other, not a team of scientists nervously observing the maneuver, but the future American president Donald Trump and his emblematic red cap, who made the trip.

Since the latter's victory in the American presidential election and the appointment of Elon Musk as head of a Government Effectiveness Commission, the two men have been inseparable. In the days following the election, the Tesla boss was everywhere in the corridors of Mar-a-Lago, the future president's luxurious residence in Florida, even appearing in the Trump family photo. “Elon achieves uncle status”the republican's granddaughter even had fun by posting https://twitter.com/KaiTrump/status/1855734110062272874 on the golf course located near the villa.

The richest man in the world is also at all the political meetings. On November 6, he participated in the post-victory telephone conversation between Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who thanked him for the Starlink satellite link service. In February 2025, at the invitation of Emmanuel Macron, he should come to France with the American president for a summit on artificial intelligence. “Elon doesn’t want to go home. I can't get rid of it. But I like having it here”would have launched Donald Trump during a meeting with Republican representatives. A simple joke, as witnesses attest?

And “huge burst of anger” with someone close to Trump

The omnipresence of Elon Musk in Donald Trump's orbit is in any case causing chatter in the ranks of his party. “He acts as a co-chair and makes sure everyone knows it”comments to NBC News a source from the team responsible for organizing the arrival of the future president at the White House. “He takes a lot of credit for the victory […] He wants Donald Trump to feel indebted. But the president is not beholden to anyone. »

It must be said that the boss of social network He notably collected tens of millions of dollars in donations to support his campaign, through his political organization “America PAC”, and appeared several times at meetings of Kamala Harris' opponent.

Constantly in the footsteps of the future president – ​​like Franklin Roosevelt's little dog, who followed him “all over the world”quips editorialist Lawrence O'Donnell -, Elon Musk annoys some Republicans. In particular the oldest supporters of the real estate mogul, who feel erased. “He wants to appear as the one who has a say in everything (even if that’s not the case)”squeaks another source from NBC News. The tension would even have increased a notch with a manager of Donald Trump's transition team.

From the news site Axios, three sources describe a heated discussion that ended on a “huge burst of anger” between the entrepreneur and Boris Epshteyn, a close advisor to Donald Trump since 2017, who is currently supporting him in the formation of his administration. The first allegedly criticized the second, during a dinner at Mar-a-Lago, for having leaked information about government appointments to the press. “Total absurdity”sweeps the team of the future president to the New York Post.

“There can only be one star”

However, government appointments are of great interest to Elon Musk, who is trying to influence Donald Trump in the choice of his ministers. For example, he pushed for billionaire Howard Lutnick to be named Secretary of the Treasury. He finally inherited the Trade Secretariat on Tuesday, a much less prestigious and strategic position. For Politicoit is a « coup » worn to Elon Musk.

After an article from New York Post this Wednesday, November 20 on his relations and his influence with Donald Trump, the South African entrepreneur however made an update on X: “To be clear, although I have given my opinion on some cabinet nominees, many selections are made without my knowledge and the decisions are 100% up to the president. »

So how long « bromance » between the two men will it be able to last? This is the question posed by CNN, which notes that both “have an abrasive personality, each need to be the star of their own firmament, and seem to have difficulty having strong friendships.” Donald Trump has indeed proven in the past that he can turn against his former collaborators.

Beyond the subjects on which the two men disagree, like global warming, their relationship could be undermined by the numerous conflicts of interest that Elon Musk risks encountering. His company SpaceX has numerous contracts with the US government. How would he react if the president-elect spoke with Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon but also of SpaceX's competitor in space, Blue Origin?

“There can only be one star, and that star will be Donald Trump”bets former Republican governor of Minnesota Tim Pawlenty, interviewed by CNN. For now, both are winners in this relationship: Donald Trump has polished his image “among a young and male population who see the Tesla boss as an icon”notes the American channel, while Elon Musk, in addition to seeing the possibility of obtaining numerous favors from the government for his companies, saw the action of his automobile group jump after the election.

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