KLIK SAJA - The relationship between Donald Trump and Elon Musk resembles a dramatic rollercoaster of political and business bromance—once fueled by passion, now frozen by ego, economic turbulence, and mounting public pressure.
Both figures, known for their dominant personalities, massive ambitions, and fearless demeanor, once stood united as quintessential alpha males.
But today, they find themselves on opposing ends of the political and ideological spectrum.
Their closeness peaked following the U.S. Presidential Election, when Musk—who had long maintained a neutral stance—chose to openly back Trump.
It wasn’t a symbolic gesture. Musk poured significant financial support into Trump’s campaign and used his influence to rally support for the Republican base.
He even accepted a position in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a controversial advisory body created by Trump to slash federal spending.
Yet, within months, the once-promising alliance began to crack. One major trigger: DOGE's decision to lay off over 30,000 federal employees, including thousands from the Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Though the move was hailed by Trump and Musk as a $2 trillion budgetary breakthrough, it sparked a wave of public outrage.
As if that weren’t enough, Trump dissolved USAID, a key agency for international aid, under the guise of "efficiency."
The move damaged America’s global image and directly impacted foreign assistance programs—including vital aid to many developing countries.
Public dissatisfaction soon reached Musk’s doorstep. Outraged by his association with Trump’s policies, many Americans called for a boycott of Tesla.
The backlash was swift and brutal—Tesla's stock price plummeted from $400 to $200 within just four months.
Sensing the shifting tide, Musk began to distance himself. He refocused his attention on Tesla and other ventures like Starlink.
But even there, the damage rippled. A $100 million satellite internet deal with Ontario was abruptly canceled in protest of Trump’s retaliatory tariffs against Canada.
