Aides to Donald Trump are worried about his relationship with billionaire Elon Musk after Musk criticized Trump’s AI initiatives. Despite being in frequent contact, including during Trump’s 2024 campaign, insiders express concern over Musk’s influence and expressed doubts about a $500 billion investment involving major tech figures. Musk’s recent mockery of Trump’s AI plans has angered Trump’s staff, who feel he is taking advantage of his closeness to the president. The situation is exacerbated by Musk’s public spat with Sam Altman, raising fears of future conflicts and drama within the Trump administration as it forms.
Donald Trump’s aides are concerned that the president is losing control over billionaire Elon Musk after the latter publicly criticized the president’s AI projects.
Musk, the Tesla founder, has been in unprecedented contact with President Trump both during his 2024 campaign and since winning the November election, and he spoke to the president as he signed an executive order on Tuesday. He revealed that he was with the president in the office.
However, MAGA insiders told Politico that fraud will continue after Musk recently mocked President Trump’s $500 billion AI investment, which he praised as “monumental” and “tremendous.” He revealed that he was concerned that the act would continue.
“The problem is that the president has no influence over him and Elon doesn’t say anything bad about him at all,” the source said.
“It’s clear he took advantage of his closeness to the president.”
Earlier this week, Trump joined Musk’s nemesis, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Oracle’s Larry Ellison, and SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son, to join forces with Musk’s arch-nemesis, including OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Oracle’s Larry Ellison, and SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son, to launch a massive U.S. investment estimated to total $500 billion. Promoted AI investment.
Mr Musk was nowhere to be seen and later wrote on his social media platform X: “They don’t actually have any money.”
“SoftBank has secured funding of well under $10 billion, which I have on good authority.
US President Donald Trump, singer Kid Rock, Tesla, and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk pose for a photo at UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden.
President Donald Trump’s aides say he may be losing control over his “first buddy” Elon Musk after the billionaire publicly criticized one of the president’s AI projects. concerned
Musk also shared a post of Altman calling him a “fraud” and a “liar” and rooting for Trump’s defeat in the 2020 presidential election.
Trump was later asked about Musk’s opposition, but he brushed off concerns, pointing out that Musk “hates one of the people who are part of the deal.”
He claimed, “They’re paying.”
“The government hasn’t announced anything. They’re spending money. I hope they do because they’re very wealthy people. And I mean, Elon is one of those people. I don’t like it.
Mr. Altman himself fired back at Mr. Musk, writing about X: “While I understand that what’s great for the country isn’t necessarily what’s best for your company, I want you to focus primarily on America in your new role.”
A Republican insider said Trump’s staff was privately “outraged” by Musk’s comments, given his huge following and influence.
Steve Bannon, a former Trump aide who has had public feuds with Musk in the past, told Politico that Musk needs to be told to “calm down” and “resolve things quickly.” told.
It also exacerbated fears that Mr. Trump and Mr. Musk were headed for a major feud that could cause drama for the new administration.
President-elect Donald Trump, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance attend the 125th Army-Navy Football Game
Elon Musk travels with President-elect Donald Trump and political aides
Elon Musk and son attend dinner at Mar-a-Lago with President-elect Donald Trump
Musk heads the Trump administration’s Office of Government Efficiency, which is tasked with cutting government spending and improving productivity in public services.
He has also become a familiar face at Mar-a-Lago, where the newspaper reported he was working in the West Wing this week despite assurances from the president that he would not be given the job.
Musk said Wednesday that he was with Trump in the Oval Office when he signed an executive order pardoning Ross Ulbricht.
Ulbricht, 40, was arrested in 2013 on charges that a shadowy website he founded facilitated the sale of illegal drugs using virtual currency.
“It was an honor to be in the Oval Office tonight when @POTUS signed this,” the Tesla founder wrote to X in response to the pardon.
In early 2015, Ulbricht was sentenced to two life terms and 40 years in prison for drug trafficking, money laundering conspiracy, and computer hacking while operating under the pseudonym “Dread Pirate Roberts.”
President Trump granted an unconditional pardon to Ulbricht, the creator of the infamous dark web page Silk Road, praising the “libertarian movement” and slamming the “scum” who prosecuted him.
