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Welcome to The Logoff: Is the Trump-Musk partnership over? It’s difficult — however after at present, it’s wanting extra like sure.
What simply occurred? President Donald Trump has pinned his legislative hopes on one “massive, stunning invoice,” which handed the Home final month. Right this moment, Elon Musk took goal on the invoice as “large, outrageous, pork-filled…a disgusting abomination” that may “massively enhance” the finances deficit.
Does it matter what Musk thinks? Perhaps not as a lot because it as soon as did. This can be a transitional second for Musk, who’s on his manner out after the official finish of his time as a authorities worker final week. Trump, in a farewell press convention, downplayed the departure, saying, “Elon’s actually not leaving. He’s going to be backwards and forwards.”
In non-public, Trump has reportedly expressed some skepticism about Musk, asking whether or not efforts by the Division of Authorities Effectivity have been “all bullshit.” Regardless of that, reporting has to this point steered that the Trump-Musk relationship stays typically amicable — however Musk’s new broadside towards Trump’s invoice could also be an indication of issues fraying.
What did Musk really accomplish? In some methods, comparatively little — as my colleague Andrew Prokop has reported, Musk and DOGE did not get wherever near cuts on the promised scale. On the similar time, nevertheless, Musk had finished a horrifying quantity of harm — his decimation of US overseas assist alone might have already got brought about lots of of hundreds of deaths, by some estimates, and can proceed to trigger much more.
What is going to Musk do now? Allegedly, return to specializing in his lengthy listing of firms, Tesla and SpaceX chief amongst them, and spend much less time on politics. Musk additionally stated in Might that he would do “quite a bit much less” political spending going ahead. On the very least, his feedback Tuesday counsel he’s not all the best way finished with politics, although it stays to be seen how influential he may be.
And with that, it’s time to sign off…
We’re returning to a Logoff traditional at present, with my colleague Patrick Reis’s favourite livestream from a bald eagle’s nest. The nest, residence to bald eagles Jackie and Shadow, is positioned in Massive Bear Valley, California. I hope it’s a peaceable second on your night, and we’ll see you again right here tomorrow.
