An author and historian believes that the ‘bromance’ between Elon Musk and Donald Trump will be short-lived.
After endorsing him and helping run parts of his campaign, Musk has established himself in the early hours of Trump’s transition as a powerful adviser and gatekeeper with broad influence.
David Nasaw, a history professor who has written several books about the intersection between the great men of history and politics, doesn’t think this will last long, saying that “the bromance is not going to last.”
He says Trump’s inability to share credit for his successes will make it impossible for him and Musk to coexist for long.
Nasaw writes: ‘There is only room for one star, a genius in Trump White House. He is not going to share his victory and his prominence with anyone. And why should I do it? What more would you have to offer, having spent more than $100 million to help secure your election?
An author and historian believes that the ‘bromance’ between Elon Musk and Donald Trump will be short-lived
David Nasaw, a history professor who has written several books about the intersection between the great men of history and politics, doesn’t think this will last long, saying that “the bromance is not going to last.”
He cites eccentrically wealthy men like Andrew Carnegie, William Randolph Hearst, and Joseph Kennedy, who attempted to turn their largesse into real political influence, with varying levels of success.
Ironically, Kennedy’s grandson, RFK Jr., has been vying for a position within Trump’s cabinet.
Nasaw says Musk’s fatal mistake is that he made specific demands of Trump during the campaign, including the opportunity to lead a newly created Department of Government Efficiency.
‘Do you really think he’s going to give you that? This is not a man for whom loyalty is a strong point. As president, he parted ways with his chief of staff, his deputy chief of staff, his press secretary, his national security adviser and his chief strategist. And that was only in his first year in office,” he writes in the New York Times.
He also believes that Musk’s plan to cut $2 trillion in public spending would not be approved, even by congressional Republicans.
He also cited Trump transition team co-chair Howard Lutnick, who said Musk “wouldn’t go into government.”
‘As insurance against being prematurely discarded, you can, as you have already announced, continue to be involved in politics with your well-funded political action committee prepared to “lobby hard” in the midterm elections and beyond. Maybe even you see the writing on the wall,” Nasaw added.
Trump first floated an internal role for Musk during a speech in New York in September.
Trump first floated an internal role for Musk during a speech in New York in September.
It was unusual at the time and came before Musk poured at least $119 million into Trump’s race and campaign across Pennsylvania.
“I will create a government efficiency commission charged with conducting a comprehensive financial and performance audit of the entire federal government,” Trump promised.
“I look forward to serving America if the opportunity arises,” the Tesla and Space X boss wrote in response on X. “No pay, no title, no recognition needed.”
That role, while important to the budget of a federal workforce preparing for a second Trump term, now seems like a mere sideline for Musk, whose corporate achievements Trump recounted at nearly every campaign event in the final weeks of the election. Campaign.
Staying within the corners of efficiency and staffing, there was a chance it would be little more than another “Reinventing Government” commission or a Blue Ribbon panel.
The billionaire Tesla CEO and X owner has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago as he spent the last few days weighing in on a contested race to determine control of the Senate leadership.
He is also wading into the debate about reshaping the bureaucracy and allowing lawmakers to bypass traditional paths to confirming Trump’s Cabinet appointments.
And he has been seen chatting at a dinner alongside incoming first lady Melania in Palm Beach and spending time with Trump’s numerous grandchildren.
The use of its X platform – a vast online presence capable of influencing politics around the world – is just one part of its growing political power.
Musk has been seen repeatedly at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the election and thanked him on stage on election night.
And he even joined Trump on a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week, despite having no formal role within the rapidly forming administration.
Now, Musk is weighing in not only on who should serve in government, but also on the power of the executive and the Senate. “We have to protect our geniuses, we don’t have that many,” Trump said during his election night speech, greeting the billionaire who jumped on stage during his second rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
At times, Musk’s role has taken on elements of a lower-level communications official.
But his posts also reveal his role in shaping who joins the administration, amid the long-held axiom that personnel is power.