Don & Elon Bromance

[Szdfan]

Right now, Trump and Elon are best buds. Elon even shows up in Trump family photos (Melania is nowhere to be seen)



Both Trump and Elon are "alpha males" who demand to be at the center of attention. How long do you think their bromance survives under it collapses under the weight of its ego?

[R7ehr]

Right now, Trump and Elon are best buds. Elon even shows up in Trump family photos (Melania is nowhere to be seen)



Both Trump and Elon are "alpha males" who demand to be at the center of attention. How long do you think their bromance survives under it collapses under the weight of its ego?

3-8 months. Less than a year.

[Robert]

I have noticed that they have been around each other a lot of late. It will be interesting to see how it goes moving forward.

Trump even joked that Elon has kind of moved into Mar a lago.

Yes. I did the 4 eva because it was funny!.

[barnhart]

It doesn't seem obvious to me that Trump economics will create a favorable environment for manufacturing cars. Maybe Mr. Musk is bored of this part of his empire so it won't bother him.

[Ken]

It doesn't seem obvious to me that Trump economics will create a favorable environment for manufacturing cars. Maybe Mr. Musk is bored of this part of his empire so it won't bother him.

Elon's companies from Tesla to SpaceX are also the beneficiaries of billions of dollars of Federal subsidies. Which is going to be inconsistent with his supposed mandate to cut government spending. SpaceX would not exist without Federal dollars. And Tesla would not be profitable. For example, Tesla currently makes more money selling carbon credits than it does making cars.

Elon's new obsession seems to be Robo-taxis. Personally I don't see how they will be remotely profitable without massive federal subsidies either. They probably have their eye on federal mass transit funds.

[Praxis+Theodicy]

It doesn't seem obvious to me that Trump economics will create a favorable environment for manufacturing cars. Maybe Mr. Musk is bored of this part of his empire so it won't bother him.

Elon's companies from Tesla to SpaceX are also the beneficiaries of billions of dollars of Federal subsidies. Which is going to be inconsistent with his supposed mandate to cut government spending. SpaceX would not exist without Federal dollars. And Tesla would not be profitable. For example, Tesla currently makes more money selling carbon credits than it does making cars.

Elon's new obsession seems to be Robo-taxis. Personally I don't see how they will be remotely profitable without massive federal subsidies either. They probably have their eye on federal mass transit funds.

The talk of cutting federal funding is very likely (looking over the history of numerous similar administrations) to be code for "reallocate federal funding to private crony oligarchs. Elon just wants to be the biggest oligarch, so he made himself Trump's crony.

[Jazman]

It doesn't seem obvious to me that Trump economics will create a favorable environment for manufacturing cars. Maybe Mr. Musk is bored of this part of his empire so it won't bother him.

Elon's companies from Tesla to SpaceX are also the beneficiaries of billions of dollars of Federal subsidies. Which is going to be inconsistent with his supposed mandate to cut government spending. SpaceX would not exist without Federal dollars. And Tesla would not be profitable. For example, Tesla currently makes more money selling carbon credits than it does making cars.

Elon's new obsession seems to be Robo-taxis. Personally I don't see how they will be remotely profitable without massive federal subsidies either. They probably have their eye on federal mass transit funds.

The talk of cutting federal funding is very likely (looking over the history of numerous similar administrations) to be code for "reallocate federal funding to private crony oligarchs. Elon just wants to be the biggest oligarch, so he made himself Trump's crony.

Or translated another way, "Hand outs for me but not for you..." Similar situation to lots of gov subsidy or tax breaks or other largesse going to rural poor on welfare and big farms, but the same people can't stand similar or less $$s going to urban people...

[Szdfan]

Both Trump and Musk are men with incredible egos. I find it interesting that some of Trump's old cronies, like Steve Bannon, are not being offered roles in the second administration. Perhaps Bannon got too much attention and credit. There can be only one Trump. There can be only one glorious center that sucks all the attention and energy. Once somebody starts getting too much attention, Trump casts them aside.

[Robert]

There can be only one glorious center that sucks all the attention and energy. Once somebody starts getting too much attention, Trump casts them aside.

I saw this in his previous admin some. This time it seems different. I don't know if it was the assassination attempts or what, but he seems different.

I also wonder if Elon is feeling like he has found a group that he can be relaxed around. He has been shouldering a lot. Maybe he is feeling a group of support. Maybe Trump is being a father figure to him. Not sure.

I hope it keeps going in a positive direction for both of them. I think Elon is good for the Trump team. He can see how to handle fame and still be a good parent. Trump has figured that out some how.

[JohnL]

I saw this in his previous admin some. This time it seems different. I don't know if it was the assassination attempts or what, but he seems different.

I also wonder if Elon is feeling like he has found a group that he can be relaxed around. He has been shouldering a lot. Maybe he is feeling a group of support. Maybe Trump is being a father figure to him. Not sure.

I hope it keeps going in a positive direction for both of them. I think Elon is good for the Trump team. He can see how to handle fame and still be a good parent. Trump has figured that out some how.

I agree. I see a different Trump this time too. He seems to be more mellow than he was in 2016 when he was just getting involved in learning to deal with the kind of crazy that goes on in government. Now it's almost as if he's found the key to unlock the answers. I'm sure those who drink the "Trump Derangement Syndrome kool-aid" will say he hasn't changed but some people hold onto to hate to define themselves.