MAGA vs Mars: Why Musk and Trump can't be bros

After a bitter public dispute in which they exchanged wild insults on social media, Elon Musk and Donald Trump appear to be headed towards reconciliation. Musk said on Wednesday he regretted some of the posts he made last week about U.S. President Donald Trump as they had gone "too far". A few days ago, Trump said he wishes Musk well.

Declaring their relationship over on Saturday, Trump said there would be "serious consequences" if Musk decided to fund Democrats. Trump also said he had no intention of repairing ties with Musk. On Monday, Trump said he would not have a problem if Musk called and that he had no plans to discontinue the Starlink satellite internet provided to the White House by Musk's SpaceX but might move his Tesla off-site. "We had a good relationship, and I just wish him well," Trump said. Musk responded with a heart emoji to a video on X showing Trump's remarks.

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Though these are more than enough signs indicating a truce, in all likelihood it will just be a ticking clock. Beneath this momentary thaw lie deep and persistent ideological, political, and strategic divisions. These go beyond personal disagreements and reflect broader fault lines in American politics and power structures. The rift, while temporarily patched over, is unlikely to disappear completely, and their former "bromance" may never return.

Why Musk and Trump can never be bros

At the heart of the tension between Musk and Trump lies a stark difference in worldview. Trump’s political thinking is rooted in nationalist populism, a movement centered around American exceptionalism, protectionism and cultural traditionalism. His "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) base champions these ideals, often with suspicion toward the global elite and high-tech futurists who, in their view, represent the unaccountable elite power structures MAGA opposes.

Musk, in sharp contrast to Trump, is a techno-libertarian. While he shares some overlap with right-leaning critiques of government overreach and “wokeness", his vision is global and heavily future-oriented: Mars colonization, AI development and neural interfaces are the pillars of his brand of progress. This Silicon Valley futurism clashes with the MAGA worldview that prioritizes domestic manufacturing, strong borders, less immigration and economic nationalism over grand visions of interplanetary expansion. Their recent clash over Trump’s so-called “big, beautiful bill”, a piece of legislation Trump touted as a populist economic initiative, highlights this rift. Musk’s criticism of the bill as bloated or misdirected was not just a policy disagreement; it was a symbolic rejection of Trump’s politics.

Even more fundamental than their ideological divide is the fact that Trump and Musk belong to different power networks. Trump’s power base is the MAGA movement: a coalition of culturally conservative voters, media personalities like Steve Bannon, and right-wing populists who are often hostile to the perceived elite technocracy which Musk represents.

Figures like Bannon have been openly antagonistic toward Musk, viewing him as a tech billionaire whose ambitions and influence pose a threat to nationalist populism. This hostility is not likely to fade, and Trump, ever sensitive to the moods of his base, cannot afford to alienate this segment by embracing Musk too warmly.

On the other hand, Musk belongs to a different group which is Silicon Valley-aligned, anti-woke but pro-technology right wing. He maintains alliances with tech-libertarian figures like Peter Thiel and may also enjoy the support of political rising stars such as Vice President JD Vance, who walks a fine line between nationalist populism and venture-capital futurism. While Vance once aligned with Trump-style politics, his affiliation with Thiel and Silicon Valley capital positions him closer to Musk’s orbit than Trump’s.

Trump’s future, even in 2025, still centers around his persona and movement. If he runs again or remains the de facto leader of the GOP, the party remains tied to his identity, his grievances, and his policy style. In that environment, there’s little room for competing egos, especially ones as large as Musk’s who sees himself as a political disruptor and power broker. He makes wild comments on elections, candidates and politics and also leverages his social media platform, X, to shape political discourse. His ambitions may not include elected office, but they certainly include influence. And that, in Trump’s world, can be perceived as competition.

There is also a psychological dimension to their antagonism. Both men are known for their intense egos, combative communication styles and need for dominance. Their previous alliance was always tenuous, based more on mutual utility than genuine alignment. Trump admired Musk’s success, and Musk appreciated Trump’s deregulation and business-friendly policies. But as each grows in influence, cooperation will become more difficult and rivalry more likely. Musk’s impulsive social media use, including posts mocking or criticizing Trump, goes against the loyalty Trump expects from allies. Even though Musk has regretted and deleted posts insulting Trump, the hurt will stay with him.

Given these dynamics, any reconciliation between Musk and Trump is likely to be transactional, short-term and fragile. When mutual interests align, they may publicly support each other, but any deep friendship or ideological alignment is unlikely. Their worldviews will intersect occasionally but are incompatible in the long run.