An author and historian believes the bromance between Elon Musk and Donald Trump is going to be short-lived.
After endorsing him and helping run parts of his campaign, Musk has been establishing himself in the first hours of the Trump transition as a powerful advisor and gatekeeper with sweeping influence.
David Nasaw, a history professor who has written several books about the intersection of historys great men and politics, doesnt see it lasting long, saying the bromance is not going to last.
He says that Trumps inability to share credit for his successes will make it impossible for he and Musk to coexist for long.
Nasaw writes: Theres room for only one star, one genius in the Trump White House. He is not going to share his victory and center stage with anyone. And why should he? What more would you have to offer, having spent in excess of $100 million to help secure his election?
An author and historian believes the bromance between Elon Musk and Donald Trump is going to be short-lived
David Nasaw, a history professor who has written several books about the intersection of historys great men and politics, doesnt see it lasting long, saying the bromance is not going to last
He cites the likes of previous eccentrically wealthy men like Andrew Carnegie, William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Kennedy, who all attempted to turn their largesse into real political influence, to varying levels of success.
Ironically, Kennedys grandson, RFK Jr., appears set to have a position within the Trump cabinet himself.
Nasaw says that Musks fatal mistake is that he made specific demands of Trump during the campaign, including a chance to run a newly-created Department of Government Efficiency.
Do you really believe he is going to give you that? This is not a man for whom loyalty is a strong suit. 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 just in his first year in office, he writes in the New York Times.
He also believes that Musks plot to slash $2 trillion in government spending wouldnt be approved, even by Congressional Republicans.
He also cited Trump transition team co-chair Howard Lutnick, who said Musk was not coming into the government.
As insurance against being prematurely discarded, you can, as youve already announced, continue to stay involved in politics with your well-funded political action committee poised to weigh in heavily in the midterms and thereafter. Perhaps even you see the writing on the wall, Nasaw added.
Trump first floated an inside role for Musk during a New York speech in September.
Trump first floated an inside role for Musk during a New York speech in September
It was unusual at the time, and came before Musk would plow at least $119 million into the race and campaign for Trump across Pennsylvania.
‘I will create a government efficiency commission tasked with conducting a complete 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 on X in response. ‘No pay, no title, no recognition is needed.’
That role, though important to the budget an federal workforce bracing itself for a second Trump term, is now looking like a mere sideline for Musk, whose corporate achievements Trump recounted in nearly every campaign rally during the last weeks of the campaign.
Staying within the corners of efficiency and personnel, it stood the chance of being little more than another ‘Reinventing Government’ commission or Blue Ribbon panel.
The billionaire Tesla CEO and X owner has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago as hes spent the past days weighing in on a contested race to determine control of Senate leadership.
Hes also wading in on debate over reshaping the bureaucracy and allowing lawmakers to skirt traditional paths to confirming Trumps Cabinet appointments.
And hes been spotted chatting at dinner alongside incoming First Lady Melania in Palm Beach and spending time with Trumps many grandchildren.
The use of his X platform - a vast online presence capable of influencing politics around the world - is only part of his expanding political power.
Musk has been spotted repeatedly at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the election and thanked him onstage election night.
And he even joined Trump on a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week, despite not having a formal role within the quickly-forming administration.
Now, Musk is weighing in not just on who should serve in government, but over the power of the executive and the Senate. We have to protect our geniuses, we don’t have that many of them, Trump said during his election night speech, saluting the billionaire who jumped on stage during his second rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Sometimes, 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.