Calm isn’t just personal. In politics, it’s power.
From Allies to Adversaries
Not long ago, Donald Trump and Elon Musk worked closely together. Musk had donated nearly $300 million to Trump’s 2024 campaign, co-led the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and was said to have direct influence over internal policy. Now the alliance is fractured. Their fallout has included public insults, policy clashes, and even reports of a physical confrontation inside the White House.
- Musk denounced Trump’s new spending bill as a “disgusting abomination”, triggering a public feud
- Trump fired back by threatening to cancel key contracts with SpaceX and Tesla
- Musk responded by saying he would suspend Dragon spacecraft missions and hinted at Trump’s name being tied to sealed Epstein records
- A physical incident reportedly broke out between Musk and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent at the White House
- Steve Bannon called for Musk’s deportation and investigations into his immigration and drug history
- The split shows growing tension between public office and private influence at the highest level of government
Steve Bannon, Trump’s former chief strategist and a vocal figure in right-wing politics, is the source behind the report of a hallway altercation. Bannon still has ties to Trump’s inner circle and often speaks on behalf of hardline members of the movement. His account, shared with major outlets like the Washington Post and New York Times, is based on what others told him, but aligns with wider reports of Musk falling out of favor inside the administration.
According to Bannon, the confrontation began in April after Musk bypassed the Treasury Department to install his preferred pick for acting IRS commissioner. This angered Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who had wanted a different appointee. Trump sided with Bessent. As the group left the Oval Office, Musk and Bessent exchanged insults. Bannon claims Musk rammed his shoulder into Bessent “like a rugby player,” prompting Bessent to strike back before others stepped in. Musk was later escorted out of the West Wing.
The fight came just days before Musk lashed out at Trump’s newly passed spending bill, calling it corrupt and reckless. The comments sparked backlash from both parties. Musk followed up with social media posts attacking Republican lawmakers and suggesting Trump was named in sealed Epstein documents. Though some posts were later deleted, the impact remained.
Trump threatened to pull NASA contracts from SpaceX. Musk escalated by saying he would deactivate the Dragon spacecraft, used for missions to the International Space Station. He eventually backed off the threat, but the damage to the relationship had been done.
What the Fallout Shows
This is more than a personal disagreement. It shows the risks when powerful private figures are brought into government roles without clear limits. Musk entered as a “special government employee,” a vague title that gave him influence without official accountability. His direct emails to agency staff and policy input caused frustration among cabinet officials who felt bypassed.
Trump has publicly stated the relationship is “probably over.” But with billions in contracts and another election ahead, the influence game is likely far from finished.
If you want to lead your own life differently, start by training the kind of calm that can’t be shaken.