President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk shared a delicate political dance in the 130 days that the president’s one-time ‘first buddy’ who professed to love him ‘as much as a straight man can love another man.’
It appeared to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship that sparked fascination as the world’s richest man enjoyed the company of the world’s soon-to-be inaugurated world’s most powerful man.
After Trump won the presidential election with historic margins, Musk was among the euphoric crowd that gathered at Mar-a-lago and began plotting the future of the administration.
The eclectic billionaire was gleeful as a he hung around Mar-a-lago with his son ‘Little X,’ even renting one of the cottages at the club and appeared with the president frequently throughout the holidays.
Trump was grateful for Musk’s support and allowed him to attend meetings where they discussed cabinet nominees.
He sat on calls with foreign leaders, attended personal meetings and even helped vet potential candidates.
Musk’s presence and unfamiliarity with politics frustrated some of the president’s staffers as he tried to insert his preferred choices ahead of other potential candidates, according to reports.
But Trump appreciated having Musk around, as they celebrated his election victory.
US President-elect Donald Trump, US musician Kid Rock and Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk pose for a photo as they attend UFC 309
U.S President Donald Trump and Elon Musk attend the UFC 314,
‘Elon won’t go home. I can’t get rid of him. Until I don’t like him,’ Trump told Republicans during a speech after the election.
Just weeks after the election, Musk openly solicited social media reaction for Trump’s choice for Secretary of Treasury describing Scott Bessent as a ‘business-as-usual’ candidate and said that Howard Lutnick would ‘actually enact change.’
‘Business-as-usual is driving America bankrupt, so we need change one way or another,’ he wrote.
Musk was personally closer with Lutnick, but Trump ultimately chose Bessent, despite lobbying from Musk.
Trump ultimately directed Musk to the DOGE effort, as the billionaire famously claimed he could save the federal government up to $2 trillion dollars.
But putting Musk in charge of government cuts was a headache for cabinet members as Musk tried to control their agencies.
‘Rubio never liked him, but a lot of them did not like him,’ a person familiar with the dynamics of the president’s cabinet told the Daily Mail.
The State Department dismissed the claim.
‘Nobody has time for silly gossip. Secretary Rubio is completely focused on carrying out the President’s agenda on behalf of the American people,’ a senior State Department official told the Daily Mail.
Bessent clashed with Musk after he convinced Trump to drop Musk’s choice as acting Internal Revenue Service commissioner for a nominee of his own choosing.
Details of the disagreement leaked into the media, as both men reportedly shouted at each other as reports described the scene as ‘quite loud.’
A March incident with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Musk was also reported, as the New York Times reported he was ‘incensed’ after Musk said he had fired ‘nobody’ in his agency.
The pair debated in front of the president, but Trump conceded that secretaries would be in charge of firing employees in their agencies.
Transportation secretary Sean Duffy also debated with Musk, complaining he was trying to fire his air traffic controllers at a time of multiple plane crashes in the. United States.
Elon Musk, left, listens as President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, April 30, 2025
Leader of the Department of Government Efficiency Elon Musk wears a shirt that says “Tech Support”
Trump remained patient with Elon despite criticisms behind the scenes about his efforts, and publicly supported him in front of the press.
‘Is anybody unhappy with Elon? If you are, we will throw him out of here,’ Trump said after a cabinet meeting in February.
Trump’s cabinet members laughed but nobody voiced any dissent from Musk’s presence in the meeting.
Elon’s efforts to insert himself into major government policy and infrastructure deals were also frustrated.
Musk’s dream, a person familiar told the Daily Mail, was to implement his xAI throughout the entire federal government in an effort to both make the government more efficient, but to also make his AI stronger with the federal government’s data.
But Trump continued to work with other major tech billionaires on the AI issue, even some of Musk’s enemies.
In February, Trump sidestepped Musk to announce a major AI infrastructure deal branded as Stargate with OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Musk’s former business partner and current nemesis.
After Trump appeared with Altman to announce the $500,000 billion project, Musk was left fuming on social media asserting ‘they actually don’t have the money.’
Elon also tried to block the Stargate investment partnership in the United Arab Emirates after learning his xAI company would be excluded.
Despite Musk’s protests, the deal was announced when Trump visited the UAE.
White House Senior Advisor, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk (R) attends a Cabinet meeting at the White House on April 30, 2025
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. President Donald Trump, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth attend a Cabinet meeting at the White House on April 30, 2025
Musk was also opposed to Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill after learning included a ten-year ban on state regulations, a provision sought by Altman to boost the development of AI, according to a source.
Musk was also thwarted when he tried to convince Duffy and Republican lawmakers to use his Starlink satellite internet system to modernize and replace the current FAA air traffic control system.
Although Musk claimed he had no interest in saving government subsidies for electric cars, the Republican Big Beautiful Bill passed in the House of Representatives included provisions to repeal tax credits for the purchase of electric cars, as administration officials posited it might be why he was upset by the bill.
The most crippling blow in the Trump/Musk relationship happened after details leaked to the New York Times in March that the Pentagon set up a briefing for Musk that would include plans for any war that could break out with China.
Behind the scenes, Trump reacted quickly.
‘What the f**k is Elon doing there? Make sure he doesn’t go,’ he said, according to Axios.
He later insisted on social media that ‘China will not even be mentioned or discussed’ in the briefing with Musk.
‘Once that leaked, it really had a dramatic transformation on Trump’s opinion of him,’ it was really a big turning point,’ a person familiar with the administration told the Daily Mail.
U.S. President Donald Trump talks to the media, next to Tesla CEO Elon Musk with his son
Elon Musk receives a golden key from U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House
Trump remained patient with Musk although support for him started to fray within the administration as they waited for his 130 day period as a special advisor to the president.
Even after Musk voiced concerns with the Republican bill making its way through the House of Representatives, Trump wanted to make sure they were leaving on good terms.
Together they defended Musk’s efforts to slash government waste, fraud, and abuse even as the billionaire appeared wistful as he prepared to leave the White House. Trump even gave Musk an elaborate golden key to the White House, as a sign he valued his service.
When reporters asked if Musk would remain an informal advisor to Trump, the billionaire replied, ‘I mean, yeah, I expect to remain a friend and an advisor, and certainly if there’s anything the president wants me to do, I’m at the President’s service.’
Six days later, he erupted on social media, marking another chapter in the long history of frustrated business and political leaders failing to work together.