Podcast Title: On with Kara Swisher
Host: Kara Swisher
Episode: Never Ever Getting Back Together? The Trump/Elon Breakup
Release Date: June 12, 2025

Introduction and Context

In the episode titled "Never Ever Getting Back Together? The Trump/Elon Breakup," Kara Swisher delves into the recent implosion of the alliance between former President Donald Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk. This split has significant implications for both Silicon Valley and the political landscape in Washington, D.C. To unpack the complexities of this fallout, Kara is joined by a panel of experts: Henry Blodgett, co-founder and former CEO of Business Insider; Kirsten Grein, an investigative business reporter at The New York Times; Kristen Soltis Anderson, a pollster and contributing opinion writer for The New York Times; and Rick Wilson, a former Republican political strategist and co-founder of the Lincoln Project.

Reasons Behind the Trump-Elon Split

Social Media Spat and Policy Disagreements

The immediate cause of the breakup was a heated exchange on social media, where Elon Musk made several aggressive comments about Donald Trump. Musk accused Trump of being involved in "the Epstein list," a claim that escalated tensions between the two. Musk later retracted his statement, pleading for a truce, though tensions remained high.

Kirsten Grein noted, “Elon has already deleted some of his most egregious tweets, including an allegation that President Trump was on the Epstein list” (02:02).

Henry Blodgett added, “Elon is falling into the classic Trump trap, where someone gets thrown off the cliff by Donald Trump and they'll get signals like, yeah, that's just how he is. Let's all be friends again” (04:31).

Drug Use Reporting and Its Impact

Kirsten Grein's investigative reporting on Elon Musk's recreational drug use played a significant role in the fallout. Her revelations suggested that Musk's drug use was more intense than previously acknowledged, raising concerns about his behavior and reliability.

Kirsten Grein explained, “We extensively reported on his drug use last year. This has raised questions about his role and behavior within the Trump administration” (16:50).

Rick Wilson emphasized, “Elon was really upset to be asked about it and kind of pushed off a question at the Oval Office press conference” (19:02).

Policy Conflicts: The Big Beautiful Bill

A central point of contention was the so-called "Big Beautiful Bill," a significant piece of domestic legislation that Trump was pushing. Elon Musk opposed this bill, criticizing it heavily on social media, which further strained their relationship.

Henry Blodgett remarked, “Trump is increasingly pressuring Congress to pass this bill. Elon's opposition has cracked a little bit of that solidity” (05:51).

Implications for the GOP and Republican Party

Trump's Dominance vs. Musk's Influence

Despite Elon Musk's initial alignment with Trump, the split has reinforced Trump's position as the uncontested leader of the Republican Party. Musk's influence, though significant, proved insufficient to challenge Trump's entrenched dominance within the party.

Kristen Soltis Anderson stated, “Donald Trump has always been more popular with Republicans. 100% of elected Republicans would likely choose Trump over Elon” (07:37).

Henry Blodgett noted, “Trump is still the alpha here, and everyone will stay aligned with him” (07:44).

Voter Attitudes and Polling Insights

Polling indicates that Republican voters prefer Trump's priorities over Musk's critiques, particularly favoring tax cuts over deficit reduction. This alignment suggests that Musk's opposition to Trump does not resonate strongly with the broader Republican electorate.

Kristen Soltis Anderson explained, “When Republicans are forced to choose, they choose lower taxes, not lower deficits” (12:17).

Silicon Valley's Relationship with Trump

Regulatory Impacts and Business Implications

The conflict has broader ramifications for Silicon Valley, especially concerning regulatory issues like AI safeguards, crypto regulation, tariffs, and immigration policies. These areas are crucial for tech companies, and the unpredictability stemming from the Trump-Musk feud has created uncertainty within the industry.

Henry Blodgett observed, “Trump has harmed himself with the Valley people because they thought it's all transactional” (15:16).

Kara Swisher highlighted, “If Trump and the Justice Department started to investigate Elon for illegal drugs, it would vaporize Tesla's stock” (22:30).

Federal Contracts and SpaceX's Vulnerability

SpaceX, one of Elon Musk's key companies, holds numerous federal contracts essential for its operations and ambitions to colonize Mars. Threats to these contracts by Trump could have catastrophic consequences for SpaceX and, by extension, Musk's broader objectives.

Henry Blodgett emphasized, “There's nothing else that provides the kind of orbital lift SpaceX does. Seizing SpaceX contracts would be a very bad day for the Pentagon” (31:52).

The Legacy of Doge

"Doge," presumably a policy initiative or project associated with the Trump administration and Musk, appears to have a mixed legacy. While intended to cut federal spending dramatically, the implementation faced significant challenges, leading to skepticism about its effectiveness.

Rick Wilson criticized, “Elon started out with this audacious goal of cutting 1 to 2 trillion, but it ended up being unclear what actually happened” (37:05).

Kara Swisher added, “Elon's approach shot the organization in the foot by handling budget cuts without proper analysis” (38:27).

Henry Blodgett warned, “Cuts to agencies like USAID could allow China to fill the void, leading to global consequences” (40:58).

Predictions and Future Outlook

Potential for Ongoing Conflict

While the current ceasefire between Trump and Musk holds, the panelists anticipate that future conflicts are possible, especially as both figures are known for their unpredictable behaviors.

Rick Wilson predicted, “Elon might start criticizing Trump more openly, leading to renewed conflicts” (42:39).

Henry Blodgett offered, “Elon has more power than he knows, but he may not have the clarity to use it effectively” (46:32).

Elon's Political Aspirations and Third-Party Considerations

Elon Musk's flirtation with forming a third political party indicates his desire to carve out his own political influence separate from Trump. However, challenges remain in establishing a viable third-party movement in the U.S. political system.

Kristen Soltis Anderson noted, “A third party would likely be populist and socially progressive, complicating Musk’s role as its leader” (45:26).

Conclusion

The Trump-Elon breakup underscores the intricate and often volatile intersection of technology, business, and politics. While Trump's entrenched position within the Republican Party remains unchallenged, Elon Musk's ventures and political maneuvers continue to influence Silicon Valley and beyond. The legacy of their brief alliance, particularly through initiatives like Doge, serves as a cautionary tale about the complexities of intertwining business leadership with political ambitions. As both figures navigate their future paths, their actions will undoubtedly leave lasting impacts on the political and technological landscapes.

Notable Quotes:

• Kirsten Grein (02:02): “Elon has already deleted some of his most egregious tweets, including an allegation that President Trump was on the Epstein list.”

• Henry Blodgett (04:31): “Elon is falling into the classic Trump trap…”

• Kristen Soltis Anderson (12:17): “When Republicans are forced to choose, they choose lower taxes, not lower deficits.”

• Henry Blodgett (31:52): “Seizing SpaceX contracts would be a very bad day for the Pentagon.”

• Rick Wilson (37:05): “Elon started out with this audacious goal of cutting 1 to 2 trillion…”

This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the "Never Ever Getting Back Together? The Trump/Elon Breakup" episode of "On with Kara Swisher," providing a comprehensive overview for those who haven't listened to the podcast.