The rift in relations between US President Donald Trump and the former head of the department in his administration responsible for federal spending cuts - billionaire Elon Musk, who was also the biggest financial supporter of Trump's election campaign, is a leading topic for Western publications, BTA writes.
A significant friendship has fallen apart in a spectacular way, notes the “New York Times“. Trump and Musk are exchanging insults and Trump has threatened to terminate Musk's companies' contracts with the US government, the publication adds. The newspaper recalls that the US space agency, for example, relies too much on the company “SpaceX“ Musk.
What can Musk do now against Trump?, the publication asks. First, he could direct his millions against Trump, his allies and his agenda, after spending $250 million to help him get elected president. Musk could also use his social network “Ex“ to be a Trump irritant. For example, he has already opened a poll there on whether to create a new political party in the country. Two million people have already answered this question, with 80 percent saying “Yes”. And in response to a post asking whether Trump should be removed from office through impeachment proceedings, Musk said: “Yes”. Musk could also drag Trump into a controversy by claiming to have inside information about Trump. He has already said, without providing evidence, that the Trump administration has delayed the declassification of documents regarding the affair with businessman Jeffrey Epstein, because Trump's name appeared in them. Epstein was accused of sex trafficking, in connection with which revelations of abuse of underage women also appeared. Musk can also use his companies to create problems for the Trump administration. For example, as he has already said, he can refuse the services of the "Dragon" spacecraft, which transports NASA astronauts to the International Space Station and delivers products and other materials there.
What can Trump do against Musk, the publication adds. First of all, to terminate the contracts of Musk's companies with the administration. His administration has such contracts in addition to "SpaceX" and "Tesla". According to Trump, this would be the easiest way to save budget funds. The companies have been promised nearly 100 contracts worth a total of $3 billion with 17 government agencies. Trump could also investigate Musk for alleged drug use and immigration status. Musk is a naturalized U.S. citizen who was born in the United States, but Steve Bannon, Trump's former aide, has suggested Musk should be investigated for alleged drug use, for trying to obtain classified information about military plans involving China, and for his immigration status. Trump is also likely to revoke Musk's access to top-secret documents.
As for SpaceX's ties to NASA, the space agency relies on the company for transportation to the ISS and has few other alternatives, and a rift in relations would delay both the project to return an American to the Moon and the larger plan for a mission to Mars. SpaceX has so far been part of these plans with its rocket and spacecraft projects.
An epic rift between Trump and Musk, notes the “Washington Post“. The publication also adds that the breakdown in relations poses serious threats to NASA programs, but also to the Pentagon. The newspaper adds that Musk played a role in boosting Trump's popularity in “X“, but now he can use this very network against him.
Live garbage disposal, notes the French “Figaro“. According to the publication, this public spat has cost Musk's companies $100 billion in shares on the stock exchanges.
In another article, political scientist Amy Green, a specialist in American politics at the Paris University of Political Sciences, questions whether Trump has an overall vision for his administration and adds that so far he has not achieved any clear victory on any issue. As a result, can Trump's words still be trusted?, the analyst asks.
Regarding the dispute between Musk and Trump and Musk's claims that Trump is in Epstein's "dirty secrets" dossier, "Figaro" also republished information from October last year, according to which the British "Guardian" reported at the time that Trump had sexually assaulted a model he met through Epstein in the 1990s. The woman in question is Stacey Williams, who is now 56 years old. She says that the alleged assault took place in Trump's skyscraper - "Trump Tower" in New York in early 1993 and that she believes that Epstein, who arranged for her to stay there, set her up.
„Figaro“ recalls that the influential Epstein was accused of aggression and rape of girls and committed suicide in prison in August 2019.
Donald Trump and Elon Musk staged their rift in a spectacular way, exchanging fierce remarks from a distance, notes the French newspaper “Le Monde“. Trump expressed strong disappointment with Musk, who had previously criticized his budget bill. Musk, in turn, stated that without him Trump would neither be president nor have a majority in Congress.
A war broke out between Trump and Musk, notes the Italian “Corriere della Sera“. Now Musk wants Trump to be impeached and claims that he appears in the files concerning the scandalous Essien. In return, his contracts with the government could be terminated.
The newspaper also focuses on other notable events by Trump in the last 24 hours, in addition to his dispute with Musk. Trump hinted that the previous administration had lied about Joe Biden's health. Trump also said that it might be better to let Russia and Ukraine fight a little longer. At the same time, the publication also emphasizes that Trump held a conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and on this front, a thaw in relations can be expected.
The Italian newspaper “Stampa“ also focuses on the dispute between Trump and Musk and on Musk's expressed desire for Trump to be influential.
Separately, the former European Commissioner for the Internal Market, the Frenchman Thierry Breton, stated to the publication that political negotiations between the EU and the US on tariffs are now needed and Ursula von der Leyen is the one who should go to the Oval Office of the White House.
The relationship between Musk and Trump is at a standstill, notes the Italian newspaper “Repubblica“. Their divorce is sealed, the newspaper adds. Now a likely scenario is that Musk will lead rebel politicians against Trump, and for this purpose he will found his own party, the newspaper predicts. According to him, the shares of “Tesla“ on the stock exchange have lost $152 billion in value as a result of the controversy.
Amid a bitter exchange of remarks, Musk accused Trump of being part of an alleged child sex abuse ring linked to Epstein. But Musk has also downplayed his own ties to Epstein, the Guardian notes. He was photographed in 2014 at a party with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's ex-girlfriend who was convicted in 2021 of financing sex trafficking.
The public spat between Trump and Musk comes after a remarkable partnership that has lasted longer than Trump's inner circle and many Democrats in Congress had predicted, the British publication adds.