In a recent post on Truth Social, Donald Trump (right) intensified his ongoing rivalry with Elon Musk by dismissing the billionaire’s contributions .Andrew Kelly, Gaelen Morse/Reuters
Elon Musk is preparing to interview Donald Trump this coming Monday evening. The relationship between these two prominent figures has been marked by considerable ups and downs over the years. Musk previously endorsed Trump following an assassination attempt against him. Elon Musk appears ready to lend his support to Donald Trump, even after expressing doubts about Trump’s qualifications for leading the country again.
This Monday night, Musk will host a live conversation with Trump on X (formerly Twitter), marking Trump’s return to a platform that was instrumental in his unexpected triumph during the 2016 election cycle.
Despite their previously contentious relationship, these two influential leaders have transitioned into political allies. Musk has signaled that this alliance may extend not only through personal support but also via substantial donations to pro-Trump super PACs linked to his expansive business interests.
The Beginning: November 2016—Musk’s Initial Critique of Trump Yasin Ozturk/Getty Images
In the lead-up to the 2016 elections, Elon Musk shared his thoughts with CNBC regarding Trump’s suitability for presidency. He stated emphatically that he did not believe Trump should take office:
“I feel quite strongly that he is not the right choice. His character does not reflect well on America,” remarked Musk during this pivotal moment. He also expressed favorable views toward Hillary Clinton’s policies concerning economics and environmental issues as being more aligned with national interests.
A Shift in Roles: December 2016—Musk Joins Advisory Councils Musk found himself alongside other industry leaders like Uber’s Travis Kalanick when tapped by President Trump for advisory roles.Evan Vucci/AP Photo
Following Trump’s election victory, he appointed Elon Musk to serve on two economic advisory councils along with various other recognized business figures. Initially criticized for collaborating with such a polarizing president, Musk defended his decision, asserting it provided an opportunity to advocate for improved environmental regulations and immigration reform from within the administration’s inner circle.
A Break from Collaboration: June 2017—Musk Resigns in Protest Musk openly opposed measures taken under Trump’s administration which contradicted his vision of sustainable energy.AP Photo/Alex Brandon end{align}Musk severed ties with presidential advisory boards on June 1st after President Trump’s declaration withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement—a pivotal global accord aimed at combating climate change. Following this announcement via Twitter proclaiming “Climate change is real”, he commented: “It would be detrimental both for our nation and our planet.” {&‘;
Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s Evolving Relationship: A Timeline May 2022: The Proposal to Reopen Trump’s Twitter Account Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk.Chris Saucedo/Getty Images for SXSW
In May 2022, Elon Musk expressed his intention to restore Donald Trump’s account on Twitter after acquiring the platform. He criticized the previous ban as a “deeply misguided move” and labeled it “extremely naïve” during an interview with the Financial Times. Trump’s suspension followed his involvement in the January 6 Capitol incident in 2021.
Musk identified himself as a staunch advocate for unfettered speech, asserting that one of his primary motivations for taking Twitter private was to reduce stringent content moderation practices.
July 2022: Trump Labels Musk a “Bullshit Artist” Former President Donald Trump during a rally in Anchorage, Alaska.Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images
The following day, Musk responded through social media refuting Trump’s accusations as “false.”
July 2022: A Call Against Trump’s Presidential Bid Elon Musk.Alexi Rosenfeld / Contributor / Getty Images
Musk abstained from direct insults aimed at Trump but suggested that it was time for him to refrain from pursuing another presidential campaign. In a tweet, he noted without malice, “It’s best if we allow him to retire gracefully,” urging both parties to ease tensions instead of forcing an environment where regaining power becomes essential for survival.<
Musk further posited that perhaps there should be an age limit—69 years—to initiate one’s presidency; notably mentioning that Trump is currently over this threshold at age 76.
July 2022: An Outburst from Trump on Social Media October 2023 – Reflections Following Purchase of Twitter by Musk After彻底的取购的推文几日后,特朗普 表达同样,他乏味至极注意了自己对新拥有“理智”的推特的兴奋。“我很高兴看到更加‘合乎律法的人’入手推特,而不是那些完全仇恨我们国家的疯狂左派。”他还声称他更喜欢Truth社交网站,重申不会回到Twitter上。 Monday saw subsequent jokes shared by Tires,由Himhood 发言人承诺为特朗普带回老实人转发也直到他恢复古板风航行。Δ如果每一个询问让我再是昂扬平台上的支援,我一定能赚钱招目!Musks twsarks闭嘴而不强加这种局面。 相关“They gained popularity coincidentally also encouraging attemptsto start trial challenging ahead when looking out Florida governor Ron Desantis 所以ortut31st月”)
The Evolving Dynamics Between Elon Musk and Donald Trump Understanding the Shifting Alliance of Musk and Trump: A Timeline November 2022: The Initial Support and Its Fallout As Ron DeSantis gained significant attention in late 2022, Elon Musk expressed his intention to support him. However, by March 2023, following months of verbal jabs from Donald Trump, DeSantis was ready to make a historic announcement about his presidential candidacy during an event on Twitter.
The opening moments of this broadcast were riddled with technical issues that caused chaos. Trump’s supporters swiftly ridiculed the awkward situation involving DeSantis’ discussion with Musk and venture capitalist David Sachs. Although the interview proceeded later without a hitch, it was overshadowed for days by unfavorable coverage.
During a recent visit to Eagle Pass, Texas for livestreaming on X (formerly Twitter), Elon Musk engaged with viewers as he documented the border situation.John Moore/Getty Images
September 2023: Advocating for Border Security Solutions Musk took to live-streaming on his platform X during an examination of the US-Mexico border crisis in Eagle Pass. He articulated that implementing elements from Trump’s policies was crucial for addressing what local authorities described as urgent challenges at the border.
“A wall is essential,” he stated firmly, emphasizing that individuals claiming asylum should provide credible evidence rather than making unfounded assertions. “It’s straightforward information easily found online,” he remarked while hinting at further insights from subsequent visits.
Musk mirrored sentiments shared by others within right-wing circles regarding Washington’s preoccupation with international conflicts such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine while domestic matters like immigration continued receiving inadequate attention.
March 2024: A Financial Offer from Trump Falls Flat Difficulties arose when Trump extended an olive branch towards Musk at Mar-a-Lago in pursuit of financial backing amidst campaign fund shortages. Reports indicated that this meeting included other prominent Republican donors in hopes of securing contributions; however, post-discussion remarks made clear that Musk had no intention to finance either candidate vying for the presidency.
The ambiguity surrounding who “the second candidate” referred to sparked speculation since Musk had openly criticized President Joe Biden—a likely opponent against Trump—who seemed poised for another electoral showdown.
July 2024: Solidifying Support Following Crisis An unexpected turn occurred when Musk publicly stated his full endorsement for Trump after news broke about an assassination attempt during the former president’s campaign rally ahead of major party events. This marked a significant pivot in Musk’s political trajectory away from centrist views toward alignment with right-leaning ideologies since earlier voting patterns favored Obama.
A few days after expressing support online through X stating “this ticket spells victory,” it became apparent that Vance would be chosen as Trump’s running mate after much speculation and coordination led by none other than Musk himself as well!
p>The declaration resonated broadly among certain voter demographics translating into tangible backing behind both candidates represented increasingly solidified commitments across state lines throughout American districts nationwide.*
Musk’s Financial Shift into Pro-Trump Donations*