Why do we say: Musk and Trump will eventually fall out?

Author: Ice Frog

Preface

On the power chessboard of the Atlantic, two names are redefining the rules: Trump and Musk.

Trump is the spokesperson for populism, stirring his supporters with simple and direct slogans, aiming to "Make America Great Again," trying to reshape the brilliance of the American Dream. On the other hand, Musk is entirely different; he is the tech guru of Silicon Valley, believing in the future, technology, and the stars. He sees traditional politics as outdated tools, while information and technology are the core of power.

The encounter of these two figures is destined to be a clash of power and belief.

• One wants to pull America back to the past, turning it into an isolated mountain nation;
• The other attempts to establish a brand new global power system through information technology.

This conflict was foreshadowed in the Capitol Hill incident of 2021, which continued to ferment in the following years and may ultimately push America towards an invisible "information coup."

Act One: The Spark of the Capitol Hill Incident

On the morning of January 6, 2021, Washington was shrouded in heavy gray fog, and the cold air carried a sense of unease.

In front of the Capitol, thousands of Trump supporters gathered, wearing red MAGA hats and holding signs that read "Election Fraud" and "Re-Election," shouting slogans. Their anger and resentment seemed ready to destroy the building in one fell swoop. The crowd's fury grew, and even the police on site felt threatened.

Far away at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, Trump sat in his lavishly decorated private dining room, watching the protest live on television. A complex smile played on his face, a mix of satisfaction and a hint of unease. He took a big bite of a McDonald's burger and said to an aide beside him, "Look at these people, they love America, they know the truth."

However, his supporters were not satisfied with mere demonstration. They began to break through the barricades, forcefully pushing down metal fences. The sound of shattering glass and the shouts of protesters intertwined, becoming the main theme of Washington that day. Minutes later, groups of protesters stormed the Capitol, smashing windows, overturning tables and chairs, even entering meeting rooms to take selfies of their "victorious moments."

All of this was broadcast live around the world.

On the other side of the globe, in a conference room at the Shanghai Gigafactory, Musk sat at the head of the table. In front of him was a report on Tesla's production capacity, but his gaze was fixed on the iPad screen handed to him by an aide—CNN was live broadcasting the Capitol Hill incident. His brow furrowed, and his eyes reflected a complex expression that bordered on admiration. He softly said, "This is not just a protest; this is a force that can change history."

That day, the chaos at the Capitol became the focus of global media. For Trump, it was a counterattack after his defeat; for Musk, it was a public lesson on the power of populism.

Act Two: Trump's Decline and Musk's Ambition

The aftershocks of the Capitol Hill incident spread rapidly. The Democratic Party and mainstream media united to launch a comprehensive reckoning against Trump.

"Reckoning Trump" became the main theme of 2021:

• Account Bans

Social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook banned Trump's accounts, cutting off his tool for direct communication with 80 million followers. This was the first time in his political life that he was forced into "silence."

• Criminal Charges

Dozens of criminal lawsuits followed, forcing Trump to shuttle between courtrooms and the public eye.

• Family Betrayal

Even his daughter Ivanka publicly expressed her "disappointment" over the Capitol Hill incident. This statement left Trump isolated.

Mainstream opinion unanimously believed that Trump's political life had come to an end. However, Musk in Silicon Valley had a different view. He told friends at a private gathering, "They underestimate Trump, but they underestimate the people behind him even more."

In March 2021, Musk officially topped the Hurun Global Rich List, becoming the richest person in the world. His wealth had reached its peak, and his ambitions for power began to quietly sprout.

In public, Musk continued to play the role of the "woke" leader in the tech world. He supported environmental causes, advocated for a decentralized technological revolution, and even publicly criticized Trump on Twitter as a "representative of democratic crisis." But behind the scenes, his actions were entirely different.

In April 2022, Musk proposed a shocking plan: to acquire Twitter for $43 billion.

This was not just a business transaction but a political gamble. He understood that social media was no longer merely a tool for disseminating information; it was a weapon for shaping public perception. By controlling Twitter, he could control the narrative and even change the course of history.

Despite the Twitter board's attempts to block the acquisition with a "poison pill" strategy, Musk remained undeterred. Six months later, he successfully completed the deal for $44 billion and renamed it "X."

Act Three: Musk's Transformation and the Democratic Dilemma

2022 was a pivotal year.

The outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war forced the Biden administration to allocate significant resources to aid Ukraine. However, the consequences of this war quickly fermented within the United States: inflation soared, energy prices skyrocketed, and the cost of living for ordinary people surged. The White House continuously issued statements claiming that "the American economy is recovering," but the reality was that egg prices in supermarkets had nearly doubled, and gasoline prices had become a burden for many middle-class families.

At the same time, the issue at the U.S.-Mexico border escalated. The Biden administration terminated the border wall plan from Trump's administration, resulting in a surge of illegal immigrants and a rapid deterioration of public safety in border towns. Every day, news of shootings, robberies, and "zero-dollar purchases" flooded mainstream media in the U.S.

Musk keenly grasped all of this; he realized that it was the best time to redefine the power structure.

However, that year, his personal life also underwent tremendous upheaval. His eldest son Xavier officially applied to the court for gender transition, becoming a woman, and publicly announced his intention to sever ties with his father. This incident not only became a family crisis for Musk but also made him aware of the profound impact of "woke culture" on society.

For the first time, Musk publicly criticized the transgender movement and "woke virus" on Twitter. His remarks quickly sparked controversy but also garnered support from some in the MAGA community. He never openly acknowledged himself as a Trump supporter but began to present himself with a "MAGA mask," gradually courting this political force.

However, this was merely a tactic; Musk's ambitions far exceeded the MAGA framework. He clearly understood that his beliefs were not populism but a technological dogma that transcended nations and ideologies:

• Social Darwinism;
• Technological capitalism;
• Egoistic superhumanism.

In Musk's blueprint, America was merely his power testing ground, and technology was his true tool of power.

Act Four: The Rift Between Musk and Trump

In early 2023, the atmosphere in Washington was tense and subtle.

Musk sat in his office at Twitter headquarters, the screen in front of him displaying MAGA supporters thanking him for unbanning Trump's account. He smiled lightly, picked up a cup of coffee, but did not drink. His gaze turned to the window, seemingly calculating something.

At the same time, Trump held a secret meeting at Mar-a-Lago. His advisory team made it clear that Musk's intentions should not be underestimated; his actions seemed more like an attempt to control the entire MAGA movement rather than support Trump.

"Musk, who does he think he is? He will never understand what our beliefs are!" Trump said angrily, slamming the table. His advisors remained silent; they knew the former president's anger was building, but no one dared to directly refute Musk's significance.

The key reason for the growing rift between the two was their completely different definitions of power:

• Trump's MAGA movement is centered on populism; he believes his strength comes from the loyalty of grassroots supporters.
• Musk, on the other hand, believes in the power of technology and capital; he sees Trump as just a pawn in the power chess game, a temporary tool.

The differences gradually became public. In May 2023, Musk mentioned in an interview, "We should not fear artificial intelligence; what we should truly worry about is foolish leaders." Although he did not name anyone, Trump's camp quickly interpreted this statement as a jab at Trump.

Act Five: The Prelude to the Information Coup

In 2024, preparations for the U.S. election were in full swing.

Behind the MAGA movement, Musk's Silicon Valley tech group was rapidly expanding. He had successfully acquired CNN and was integrating it into Twitter's operational system. He launched a new algorithm on the Twitter platform that could analyze user sentiment in real-time and push customized political content based on user interests.

Trump's team realized that Musk's Twitter was no longer a neutral platform. It resembled a weapon, a tool capable of shaping public perception. A senior advisor to Trump stated in a meeting, "If we cannot control public opinion, winning votes is meaningless."

Meanwhile, Musk's actions grew bolder.

• He publicly announced that he would reward every Twitter user participating in the election with tokens to encourage "real and transparent voting."
• His funded nonprofit organization began running extensive ads in key swing states, promoting the idea that "technology changes the world," indirectly suggesting that Trump's "outdated" policies would hinder America's future.

This information war was not just a power experiment but a global technological revolution. Musk was testing whether information control could directly influence election outcomes. If successful, this would be one of the most disruptive changes in modern political history.

Conclusion: An Inevitable Confrontation

In November 2024, America welcomed a new election.

Trump stood on a stage in Florida, addressing tens of thousands of supporters. His voice was hoarse but passionate: "This is not an ordinary election; it is a battle for the soul of America!" Cheers erupted from the crowd, and the MAGA flag waved in the air.

Meanwhile, Musk was in a high-tech conference room in Silicon Valley, watching the data analysis results from CNN and Twitter. His team reported that the algorithm he launched could accurately predict voter preferences and even change 5% of the vote flow through content pushing.

Trump emphasized tradition and belief, while Musk shaped a futuristic utopian vision through technological means; the two contrasting power models made future conflict inevitable.

What will be the outcome of this confrontation in the future?

The final answer remains to be seen, but it is certain that the impact of this power struggle will far exceed the United States, even transcending the Earth itself.

What is the future of power? Who will control the fate of humanity? This "information coup" will unveil the answers.