The Trump-Musk Play by Play

One thing I learned in life, as a middle child in my early teenage years, was that when you have a disagreement with someone, it’s best to stay focused on the point of that disagreement.

While in the heat of the moment, it may be tempting to score all sorts of other points on other issues, all that usually does is risk creating a downward spiral that does far more lasting damage. Way beyond the actual point of disagreement. There are even some things you might say that are so nasty, so cutting, so deep—so revealing—that you will never repair the relationship.

Yesterday, it’s fair to say, America learned something….

Donald Trump and Elon Musk have not learned this basic principle.

For those of you who (wisely) don’t spend much time on Twitter/X, let me do my best to diagram out what happened. (I did this in December when Vivek Ramaswamy ignited the last major MAGA civil war, and people found it useful.)

Defcon 5

Several days ago, only days after his “departure” from the Administration, Musk first announced that he did not like Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” that is now in the Senate.

Early yesterday, he fired off additional tweets to reemphasize that opposition. But to give him initial credit, he largely stuck to the topic at hand, pointing out the large deficit…

…and then dipping his toe into slightly more aggressive rhetoric—using Trump’s past words against him:

Defcon 4

Some time around noon, Trump decided to strike back—speaking about Musk from the Oval Office. Initially, he too followed my rule—largely sticking to the bill, and suggesting that Musk was OK with it for some time:

Responding to that point, Musk pushed back…heating things up….

Defcon 3

But this small skirmish was quickly eclipsed, because Trump ventured into additional musings about Musk, suggesting other motivations that quickly turned into personal insults:

Trump also took to social media, accusing Musk of going “CRAZY” (his caps not mine) because the budget bill removed the electric vehicle mandate.

This did exactly what my basic principle above warns will happen. Musk swiped back, taking things far beyond the bill.

First, he called Trump a liar (yes, we know!)…

And like any good children’s argument, he selectively lashed out on topics that he knew hit Trump at his most sensitive spots:

First, he took credit for Trump’s victory—trouble!

Even Fox News found this newsworthy enough to break away from auto-pen-Gate.

Next, Musk went after another sore spot—tariffs, and Trump’s broader economic failing. That’s gonna leave a mark:

Around this time, Trump suggested cancelling all of Musk’s contracts…

…which inspired Musk to fire back, calling his bluff:

Defcon 2

But Musk was still not done—unleashing the true big guns:

Impeachment, along with a suggestion that JD Vance should be president (Vance lay in hiding at this point):

And then came the lowest blow of all—Musk revealing the Trump-Epstein connections to his 220 million followers, along with receipts…

Defcon 1

But Musk still wasn’t done, soon blasting shrapnel at other targets.

First up, Mike Johnson:

Which led to this retort:

Then came John Thune:

Followed by the suggestion of a new party entirely…

…along with some outright threats, including reminding America that Trump won’t be around that long anyway:

Later, reliving the split from December, Steve Bannon entered the fray, suggesting that Musk should have all his contracts suspended, should be investigated for his drug use, and should be deported:

Finally, Vance’s attempt to steer clear of the cross-fire was ultimately stymied by yesterday evening…one lame attempt at humor followed by the familiar shameless kowtowing that fueled his rise to power in the first place.

Lessons

Remember, all this began because of a dispute over the House budget.

But the entire meltdown tells us so much:

1. The principle I learned as a young teenager is DEFINITELY one we should all follow

2. The fact that people this powerful can’t help themselves but to do this all day shows how unfit they both are to exert the kind of power over the rest of us that they do daily

3. If this is how they behave towards each other in public, imagine just how terrible they must be in private, and to those they consider underlings—threats, insults, attacks, corruption

4. Most importantly, the entire episode is essentially a mutual admission of their collective corruption and depravity. Think about it:

   • Musk is showing that he knows all about Trump and Epstein, but has never let that bother him until he and Trump are in a disagreement about something else (what else does he know?!); Vance clearly doesn’t care either;

   • Trump is admitting that Musk’s contracts are improper and wasteful, but goes along with them as long as Musk does and says what he wants;

   • Musk knows that Trump policies will lead to a recession;

   • Trump and Bannon are showing, in the open, that they will use official government actions to punish dissenters—classic authoritarian behavior (just like they treat Harvard and law firms and individuals);

   • Trump is essentially calling Musk “CRAZY,” and Bannon is saying he should be investigated for recent drug use, yet this is the guy TRUMP allowed to access all of our data, gut critical programs and agencies we rely on, and cut off foreign aid in a way that will cost countless lives.

   The whole saga is one, big self-incriminating mess.

   While they fight, let’s unite as loudly as we can to show how their entire cabal is destroying the outcomes that everyday Americans care about.