Title: Steve Bannon Aims to Boot Elon Musk from Trump's Inner Circle Before Inauguration Day
In the "Who's against Who Now?" department, Steve Bannon has taken a swing at Elon Musk, labeling him a "truly evil person" lacking a clear ideology except for personal wealth amassment and protection, as shared in an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera. Bannon, known for his inflammatory and controversial rhetoric, has made it a personal mission to remove Musk from Trump's inner circle by Inauguration Day.
With generosity barely scraping the surface, Bannon, a known character with a checkered past, paints Musk as a selfish, monied individual. He argues that Musk's only motive is to secure his riches and subsequent power, which underpins his business and personal endeavors. Bannon criticizes Musk's lack of any real ideological leanings other than his singular desire to become a trillionaire, branding him a proponent of "techno-feudalism" on a global scale. Further, Bannon displays little faith in Musk's backbone, calling him a stick-in-the-mud who will back down at the first sign of resistance.
As the second Trump administration approaches, the tension between Bannon and Musk grows palpable. Musk, now acting in the role of "Hanger-On-in-Chief" that once belonged to Bannon, continues to build his controversial "Department of Government Efficiency." While Musk labels it as a functioning entity on social media, reports suggest that it exists primarily as an idea in conversation within Signal chats between high-ranking tech elites.
According to a New York Times report, Musk seeks the assistance of tech executives, requesting them to contribute a total of six unpaid, six-month stints—essentially working an 80-hour workweek. This unusual proposition has received mixed responses from the technology community, with few entertaining the idea due to the "unpaid" aspect of the request.
The question remains as to the true potential of the DOGE, which Trump has publicly expressed interest in creating, even if it is toothless, able to make recommendations but lacking real power. The recent rumors circulating in the Trump sphere suggest that Trump may have grown tired of Musk's constant presence, as journalist Maggie Haberman relayed during her Kara Swisher podcast discussion.
If anyone is planning to oust Musk, it seems that Musk, by his own doing, is doing his best to remain in Trump's sights. However, predicting where Trump's loyalties lie has proven to be a tricky endeavor. Bannon may have had a taste of victory in the H-1B visa discussion, having argued against Musk's stance. Despite Trump expressing support for Musk's stance, conflicting issues between the two may surface as the reality of the Oval Office sets in, making it difficult to determine where Trump's loyalty lies.
Bannon may be operating on the fringes now, but his ability to survive and thrive in troubled waters remains impressive. This unfortunate dance, between two forceful personalities, is a battle that looks set to place our collective future at risk, regardless of who comes out on top.
Despite Bannon's accusations, Musk remains committed to shaping the tech-driven future with his projects, such as the Department of Government Efficiency. Bannon's criticisms of Musk's lack of ideological leanings overlook the potential for tech to create a more equitable society, pushing the debate on the role of tech in shaping our future.
