Source: Politics<\/p>\n
The tension between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk finally burst into the open Thursday, likely closing the chapter on one of the most significant alliances in recent political history.<\/p>\n
In the wake of the schism, some Republicans are stuck in the middle debating their next moves. Do they side with Trump, the leader of the party whose influence and authority looms over so many aspects of life? Or do they back Musk, whose massive fortune could provide a boost to anyone running for reelection \u2014 or running to succeed Trump in 2028 \u2014 even as he threatens to withhold donations to lawmakers who back the Republican megabill? Could they attempt to appease both?<\/p>\n
Musk, 53, is already drawing a future-forward line between himself and Trump, 78, and urging Republicans to come to his side.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome food for thought as they ponder this question,\u201d Musk wrote on X<\/a> in response to far-right activist Laura Loomer wondering how Republicans would react. \u201cTrump has 3.5 years left as President, but I will be around for 40+ years.\u201d<\/p>\n Here are the Republicans who we\u2019re watching closely to determine how to navigate the fallout:<\/p>\n The vice president and possible heir to Trump\u2019s political movement could be the biggest loser of the blowout.<\/p>\n With Musk\u2019s future potential campaign contributions now in jeopardy, Vance, an expected 2028 presidential candidate, would have an incentive to mediate the relationship. Vance wouldn\u2019t want to jeopardize a donor relationship with Musk, but he also needs Trump\u2019s support if he wants to inherit his base. He will be constrained in how much he can realistically break from Trump if the feud continues.<\/p>\n Musk appeared to endorse<\/a> Vance in \u2018in an X post calling from Trump to be impeached and the vice president to take his place, suggesting their relationship remains intact for now. And the two appear to share some political stances, including supporting Germany\u2019s far-right party<\/a> Alternative for Deutschland (AfD).<\/p>\n In April, after it was first reported that Musk intended to leave the White House, Vance said he expected Trump and Musk to remain close, a seemingly lousy prediction in hindsight.<\/p>\n \u201cDOGE has got a lot of work to do, and yeah, that work is going to continue after Elon leaves,\u201d Vance said in April<\/a>. \u201cBut fundamentally, Elon is going to remain a friend and an adviser of both me and the president.\u201d<\/p>\n The Florida governor has had a tortured relationship with Trump, his former political benefactor-turned-2024 rival who bulldozed him during the presidential campaign.<\/p>\n But since Trump took office, DeSantis has publicly supported the president and signed into law a Florida immigration law that furthered Trump\u2019s immigration agenda.<\/p>\n He\u2019s also a big fan of Musk.<\/p>\n Musk was an early booster of the Florida governor\u2019s failed presidential campaign, offering to host a glitchy, error-ridden launch event<\/a> via X Spaces, the audio livestream feature on the Musk-owned social media site. Musk also contributed<\/a> $10 million to DeSantis\u2019 campaign before he dropped out and endorsed Trump.<\/p>\n In Musk\u2019s final week as part of the Trump administration, DeSantis praised his work leading the Department of Government Efficiency and echoed Musk\u2019s criticisms of the reconciliation package for not doing enough to reduce the deficit, calling<\/a> the bill \u201ca betrayal of the voters.\u201d<\/p>\n He went further on Wednesday, singling out Musk in a fundraising solicitation<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cElon Musk stood tall and took the hits to lead the fight on DOGE, cutting wasteful spending and exposing bloated government programs,\u201d said a fundraising email Wednesday from one of DeSantis\u2019 political committees. \u201cThe media attacked him. The Left panicked. But now? Even Republicans in Congress are backing down.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s unclear what DeSantis\u2019 political future holds \u2014 he\u2019s term-limited as governor from 2026 \u2014 but Musk\u2019s backing could play a role in whatever he does next.<\/p>\n A spokesperson for the governor\u2019s political operation said the fundraising language was approved May 29 \u2014 the day before Trump prepared to extol Musk during a friendly send-off at the White House.<\/p>\n The Trump-Musk rift sets up some potential awkwardness between Stephen Miller, Trump\u2019s powerful deputy chief of staff, and his wife Katie Miller, who joined DOGE as an aide to Musk and left last week to work for the billionaire entrepreneur.<\/p>\n The New York Times reported<\/a> in January that Stephen Miller had been advising Musk on his political donations. But it\u2019s unclear if that relationship is still strong. And after Musk started attacking the Republican megabill, Stephen Miller became a staunch defender of the legislation.<\/p>\n On Thursday, after Trump and Musk traded barbs, Musk appeared<\/a> to unfollow Miller on X. If there was ever a path to peace between Trump and Musk, the Millers could play a role \u2014 or it could cause a rift in their marriage.<\/p>\n Once tapped to co-lead DOGE with Musk, Ramaswamy split off from the administration before Inauguration Day and ultimately mounted a run for governor of Ohio.<\/p>\n But the former presidential candidate, who raised his profile by passionately defending Trump in the 2024 Republican primaries, has always aligned himself with the cost-cutting, Libertarian brand of conservatism that Musk embraces. However, if Ramaswamy seeks to grow closer to Musk in the vacuum left by Trump when he leaves office, he\u2019ll have to overcome the fact that Musk thinks he\u2019s annoying<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sacks, a South African entrepreneur, came into Trump\u2019s orbit by way of Musk, and now heads artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency policy for the White House. But if the White House withdrawing<\/a> Jared Isaacman\u2019s nomination to head NASA is any indication, Sacks may not be long for Washington.<\/p>\nJD Vance<\/h5>\n
Ron DeSantis<\/h5>\n
Stephen Miller and Katie Miller<\/h5>\n
Vivek Ramaswamy<\/h5>\n
David Sacks<\/h5>\n