Elon Musk, the billionaire behind Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter), has always had a complicated relationship with Donald Trump. In the past, Musk has been critical of Trump, but during the 2024 presidential race, he shifted gears and became a strong supporter. Musk even became a major donor to Trump’s campaign. Now, Trump has turned to Musk — along with MAGA businessman Vivek Ramaswamy — to lead a new advisory committee, cheekily named the Department of Government Ethics (DOGE).
But it’s not just Musk’s money that’s making waves. Historian and author Timothy Snyder recently sat down for an interview with The Guardian, and he had some bold thoughts on the Trump-Musk relationship. He warns that this alliance might spell trouble for Trump in the long run.
Snyder argues that while many people assume Trump is wealthy, the truth is a bit different. “Trump’s whole persona is built on making people believe he’s got money, but in reality, he’s never really had it,” Snyder said. “He’s always been a guy who’s promised wealth but hasn’t been able to back it up — not even with his own debts. Musk, on the other hand, has more money than he knows what to do with, and he essentially funded Trump’s campaign.”
This brings us to a crucial point: Musk is becoming more than just a financial backer for Trump. Snyder warns that Trump’s dependency on Musk could backfire. “If Trump relies on Musk too much, he’s setting himself up for a long-term relationship where Musk holds all the cards. And trust me, when Trump needs money — or anything, really — he’ll be knocking on Musk’s door.”
Some Democrats even joked about Musk becoming “President Musk” during the recent budget fight in Congress, which reportedly ticked off Trump. But Snyder points out a key issue: “When Trump makes threats or plans to sue people, it won’t be Trump footing the bill. It’ll be Musk.”
This dependency could grow stronger as time goes on. If Trump doesn’t distance himself from Musk now, he may find himself in a situation where he’s forever relying on Musk’s deep pockets. For anyone who’s close to Trump, this should be a red flag.
So, what does this all mean for Trump’s future? It’s clear that Musk’s influence is growing, and Trump’s finances — and decisions — may be increasingly tied to it. As Snyder puts it, “You get used to people giving you money,” and if Trump isn’t careful, this could lead to a very tricky situation down the road.
