The chronology of the fluctuating ties between Trump and Musk
The fiery war of words ignited between entrepreneur prodigy Elon Musk and President Donald Trump this week set a new milestone in their rollercoaster relationship. Propelled by political power and tech savvy, our two titans have clashed in an unprecedented public feud.
Musk, once a Democrat, has never shied away from voicing criticisms against Trump. However, a profound bond formed over the past year, earning Musk an influential role in Trump's second term.
Tracing back to 2016, Musk had a rocky start joining Trump's business advisory councils which marked the beginning of their complex relationship.
July 2022: Musk advises Trump to retire gracefully
Amid palpable animosity, Musk advocated for Trump to hang up his political hat with a simple tweet. Trump, in response to this, found fault with Musk's purchase of Twitter (then X) and accused him of lying about voting for Republicans.
November 2022: Musk reinstates Trump's Twitter account
Following his acquisition of Twitter, Musk exhibited an olive branch by reinstating Trump's account, which had been banned due to the Capitol attack. The reinstatement came four days after Trump kick-started his presidential campaign for 2024.
August 2023: Musk defends Trump against prosecutions
As Trump faced three separate criminal cases by August 2023, Musk stood by him. He criticized the aggressive legal action against the former president and later posted more sympathetic messages about Trump.
March 2024: Cash-strapped Trump meets Musk in Palm Beach
In early 2024, campaigning costs left Trump's team deep in the red. This prompted a secret meeting with Musk and other wealthy Republican donors in Palm Beach. Musk denied bankrolling Trump's legal bills, although he hinted he might support other candidates in the 2024 elections.
May 2024: Musk establishes a pro-Trump super PAC
Financial documents revealed that Musk initiated America PAC, a pro-Trump Super PAC, on May 22. The same month, rumors circulated about a possible advisory position for Musk in a second Trump administration.
July 2024: Musk publicly endorses Trump
Hours following an attempted assassination on Trump, Musk officially endorsed Trump's candidacy, triggering a wave of political support for the former president. Musk pledged to back Trump's re-election effort, promising millions of dollars in support.
August 2024: Trump and Musk collaborate for a campaign rally on X
In August 2024, Trump and Musk joined forces for a highly-anticipated online rally on X. The event, marred by technical glitches, saw both parties share their shared disdain for immigration policies among other topics, with Musk trying to steer the conversation towards renewable energy.
October 2024: Musk actively campaigns for Trump in Pennsylvania
As the presidential elections drew closer, Musk ramped up his efforts, spending millions to support Trump's reelection campaign. Musk collaborated with Trump to engage in door-to-door campaigns in key battleground states, including Pennsylvania.
November 2024: Trump secures the presidency with Musk's financial backing
In the 2024 elections, Trump emerged victorious, winning all seven battleground states and securing the popular vote for the first time. Musk's financial investments in Trump's campaign exceeded a quarter of a billion dollars, helping him clinch the election.
Enrichment Data:The tumultuous relationship between Musk and Trump is a blend of long-standing debates and sudden alliances. Since 2016, they have gone from being business associates to opposing each other, with their partnership restoring to some extent towards the 2024 elections.- November 2016: Trump won the presidential elections, leaving Musk with concerns about the trajectory of the country's leadership.- December 2016: Despite their contrasting views, Musk was appointed to one of Trump's economic advisory councils alongside other influential business leaders.- June 2017: As differences arose over the Paris Climate Agreement, Musk resigned from Trump's advisory councils.- January 2022: Trump accorded Musk with a flattering comparison to Thomas Edison and hailed his contributions to American innovation, marking a fresh start in their relationship.
- Despite the heated public feud between Elon Musk and President Donald Trump, Musk's political influence and tech-savvy business acumen led to him advising Trump on retirement in July 2022.
- After acquiring Twitter in November 2022, Musk reinstated Trump's account, demonstrating a reconciliation, four days after Trump announced his presidential campaign for 2024.
- As Trump faced criminal cases in August 2023, Musk publicly defended him against aggressive legal action, expressing concerns about the former president's predicament.
- Cash-strapped during the campaigning phase in early 2024, Trump met with Musk and wealthy Republican donors, but Musk refused to confirm that he was funding Trump's legal bills.
- In May 2024, Musk created a pro-Trump super PAC, America PAC, and rumors circulated about a possible advisory position for him in a second Trump administration.
