The honeymoon is over
Well, the erosion of the rogue’s alliance between Elon Musk and Trump has taken another giant step toward inevitable war. I say “inevitable” not only because Trump’s relationship with everyone has only one way to go, and that’s down, but also because for a while Musk was being touted by both social and legacy media as the “real” president. That’s fatal. Just ask Steve Bannon.
But the latest evidence of erosion comes from Musk himself, when he violated the first article of faith of the Trump cult: thou shalt never disagree with anything the toad-god says or does. Of the so-called “big beautiful bill” (English translation: small-minded, petty, stupid, ugly, peevish, greedy, toxic, vengeful bill) Musk told CBS on Sunday that he was “disappointed.”
Specifically, Musk said, “[I am] disappointed to see the massive spending bill, which increases the budget deficit … and undermines the work that the Doge team is doing.” Well, he’s half right. The bill will in fact increase the deficit, if it passes the Senate. Of course, he left out the part where poor Americans are going to have to pay for it in terms of lack of healthcare and increased taxes, but Musk doesn’t give a shit about that.
But Musk was wrong about what Doge was up to. The net effect of his “work,” as he pretentiously calls it, was to destroy the government and increase the deficit. But never mind.
Musk then went on to say something that was vintage Musk. “I think a bill can be big, or it can be beautiful. But I don’t know if it can be both. My personal opinion.” That’s Musk trying to say something profound and wise. But like Musk himself, upon closer examination, it’s neither. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was big and beautiful. The Affordable Care Act was big and beautiful. As ever, Musk, like Trump, is full of shit.
Anyway, the days where Trump promised to “drill baby drill” and “Elon will do everything else” are long over. From now on Musk and Trump are going to ease on down, ease on down the road, the road where they become what they were always destined to be: the bitterest of enemies. Just watch. And enjoy.
Robert Harrington is an American expat living in Britain. He is a portrait painter.