REUTERS/David Dee Delgado
Elon Musk, the powerful ally of President-elect Donald Trump, has reportedly begun to unsettle members of Trump’s transition team, with some insiders describing him as the “guest who wouldn’t leave,” according to CNN journalist Kara Swisher. Musk, the CEO of Tesla and X, has drawn attention for his high-profile bid for political influence, adding what some describe as a dose of “nerd glamor” to Trump’s circle.
Swisher, a tech journalist, shared her insights on the growing tension within Trump’s team, revealing that Musk’s presence is already making waves. “He definitely inserts himself all the time, that’s his style,” Swisher said. She added that she had received calls from Trump’s people, with them commenting on how “odd” Musk’s behavior is. The situation has raised concerns among political observers who believe that Musk’s intense drive for the spotlight may not align with Trump’s equally dominant personality.
Many, including Swisher, predict that the alliance between Trump and Musk may not last due to their strong, competing personalities. “They’re both narcissists, and there can be only one narcissist as head of the country, and that’s Donald Trump,” Swisher explained. She went on to suggest that Trump, known for quickly discarding people, might eventually become fed up with Musk. “Trump goes through people like tissues, essentially. And even if it’s Musk, they’re going to clash at some point,” she predicted, told by Al Jazeera.
Swisher also warned that Musk’s management style, which involves asserting total control within his companies and disrupting established norms, may not be as effective in Washington D.C. as it has been in Silicon Valley. “At SpaceX, they’ve blown up a lot of rockets to get where they are,” Swisher noted. “I’m not so sure that you can blow up things in the federal government quite as easily without some impact.”
As Musk continues to navigate his way through the political scene, observers are left wondering how long his collaboration with Trump will last, and whether their ambitions can truly coexist.
