Can the Donald Trump and Elon Musk bromance last?
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The relationship between Donald Trump and Elon Musk has bloomed, but can it last – and what can keep it together, and what will tear it apart?
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Read time: 4 mins
In brief…
- Elon Musk spent Thanksgiving with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, after successfully campaigning for his re-election, and securing a top government role.
- The News Agents say that they are both well aware they each stand to gain a lot from their relationship.
- While it will annoy other top Republicans, the focus on Trump and Musk could give people such as JD Vance opportunity to maneuver the political chess pieces to his favour ahead of 2028.
What’s the story?
The relationship between Donald Trump and Elon Musk was a curious phenomenon of the 2024 election campaign.
It was one based on social media disinformation, rally appearances and huge sums of money – and it resulted with Musk securing a key position in Trump's top team, following the MAGA Republican’s election win.
Musk even spent thanksgiving with Trump and his family at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida,
But can this bromance last, and if it does what will be the glue that holds it together?
Will it be genuine affection between the two, or will it simply be the knowledge that they both stand to gain more together than they do apart – at least for now…
What do they each stand to gain?
As US president, Donald Trump may be the most powerful man in the world. Elon Musk is widely cited as the world's richest man.
One controls the laws of America, the other owns one of the world's biggest social media platforms – and can exert huge influence through the algorithms of X/Twitter, to shape global conversation to his will.
"They seem, for the moment anyway, mutually fascinated with each other,” says Lewis Goodall.
"They're just obsessed with each other. Trump is clearly integrating Musk into his family, into the Mar-a-Lago setup. And both of them have so much to continue to gain."
Jon Sopel describes the pair as "interconnected" at the moment, but predicts a "rocky" future.
"I think they both like the limelight, and Donald Trump can't stand anyone getting in the way," Jon says.
"I think there is so much vested interest on both sides, but they need to find a way to make this work."
Elon Musk has more than 200 million followers on X, and used the platform to spread pro-Trump and anti-Kamala Harris content during the election campaign.
His loyalty was rewarded when he was made the co-chair of Trump's new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), tasked with reducing spending.
What could be the warning signs?
Right now, Trump and Musk are enjoying the honeymoon period of their newfound friendship.
But the first red flag may be seen when the lustre has potentially waned from Trump's time in office, and he approaches his final stretch, ever, as president.
Lewis believes we might see Musk's interest dwindle after the 2026 midterms.
"As Trump becomes a lame duck, and what effects the fact he can't run again has on his behaviour – whether it makes him more unhinged, or actually it makes him less crazy," he says.
"How interested will he be in keeping the MAGA legacy alive?
"Part of me thinks that actually Trump would secretly love it if it died with him."
By 2026, Trump will be 80 years old.
What impacts will their friendship have more widely on Republicans?
Of course, there is more to the Republican Party than just Trump and Musk, and The News Agents believe the situation between them could be both a nuisance, and provide opportunity, for those hoping to climb the ranks in the future.
Jon says Trump's closeness with Musk could turn the team around him into a "nest of vipers".
"They all want to be in Trump's ear," he says.
"There will be a lot of people whose noses are profoundly put out of joint by how close Elon Musk is to Trump right now, and they will be trying to sow the seeds of division wherever they can, to try and drive a wedge between Elon Musk and Trump."
And while all the attention is on Trump, Musk, as they dance to YMCA in little red hats, Emily says we should be keeping a close eye on JD Vance.
"I've got this little idea that while all the energy is on Musk and Trump, JD, Vance is running round, actually forging exactly where he wants the American right to be," she says.
"Vance is the one who nobody's looking at. He's not in the limelight, and he's not really being mentioned.
"If you were Vance now, you'd use that to your advantage, to secure all the parts of the party that you weren't quite sure were pro-Trump, and you'd be locking that down for yourself."
Lewis agrees, and says Vance will already be thinking about the 2028 election, and his own hopes of becoming president.
"As long as Musk continues to control X, the most supremely powerful tool to help narrate and corral power for the Republican presidential primary, which is already basically underway, there will be a series of other suitors and courtiers to Musk,: Lewis says.
"Vance is already thinking about 2028, all of the successors to the crown will be thinking about 2028."
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