An editorial discusses the recent public feud between U.S. President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, which escalated via social media. The conflict, stemming from Musk's criticism of Trump's tax plan and Trump's retaliatory threats, highlights the dangerous merger of wealth and political power. While their 'bromance' imploded, the article argues that relying on the unpredictable egos of such powerful individuals is not a safeguard against oligopoly, and that democracy needs better protections against the influence of extreme wealth.
The Guardian view on the Trump-Musk feud: we can’t rely on outsized egos to end oligopoly
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️An editorial discusses the recent public feud between U.S. President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, which escalated via social media. The conflict, stemming from Musk's criticism of Trump's tax plan and Trump's retaliatory threats, highlights the dangerous merger of wealth and political power. While their 'bromance' imploded, the article argues that relying on the unpredictable egos of such powerful individuals is not a safeguard against oligopoly, and that democracy needs better protections against the influence of extreme wealth.
Trending- 1 Less than a week ago: Trump and Musk attempted a 'conscious uncoupling' in the Oval Office.
- 2 Thursday night (June 5, 2025): Feud escalated via social media posts.
- 3 Recently: New York Times reported on Musk's alleged drug use.
- Public display of conflict between powerful figures
- Temporary impact on Tesla's value
- Calls for new political party (Musk)
- Discussion on the dangers of wealth and power in politics
- Damage to government agencies (USAID)
What: A public feud between U.S. President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, escalating on social media, highlighting the problematic merger of wealth and political power.
When: Thursday night (June 5, 2025); 'less than a week ago' (attempted uncoupling); 'recent' (New York Times report).
Where: United States, Oval Office.
Why: Musk criticized Trump's tax and spending plan; Trump retaliated with threats and insults; underlying issues of ego, power-sharing, and Musk's erratic behavior (including alleged drug use).
How: Public exchange of insults and threats via social media platforms (X, Truth Social); Trump threatened to terminate government contracts; Musk threatened to decommission Dragon spacecraft.