MAGA's mutually assured destruction

To honor the end of Elon Musk's "incredible" government service, President Trump presented his friend, adviser and billionaire benefactor with a golden key to the White House.Six days later, Musk lit the place on fire.Why it matters: The most powerful civilian ever has effectively declared war on the president of the United States, incinerating their relationship — at least for now — in one of history's most extraordinary political meltdowns.The long-predicted rupture built over months, but exploded in hours — unfolding in real time in the Oval Office, on Truth Social, and above all, on X.The consequences were tectonic, shaking the foundations of a MAGA-tech coalition that has mapped out grand ambitions for Trump's second term.Catch up quick: Tensions have simmered all week over Musk's scathing criticism of Trump's budget-busting tax bill, which is projected to add trillions to the national debt.On Thursday, Trump claimed the Tesla CEO was lashing out over the bill's rollback of electric vehicle credits — and suggested he was suffering from "Trump Derangement Syndrome."Musk responded by committing what can only be described as an unforgivable sin in Trumpworld: Claiming credit for the president's 2024 election victory and arguing that his political power would far outlast Trump's.Trump fired back by threatening to terminate Musk's billions of dollars in government subsidies and contracts, and declaring that his former adviser had gone "crazy."Over the next few hours, Musk would call for Trump's impeachment, claim the president is implicated in unreleased Jeffrey Epstein files, and float the creation of a new political party.He also announced that SpaceX would "begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately" — a move that would disrupt NASA operations and sever a core link between his empire and the federal government.Between the lines: Musk later walked back that threat and opened the door to a thaw with Trump. He responded positively to a plea by financier Bill Ackman that they make peace.Politico reported late Thursday that Trump aides had scheduled a call between the two for Friday.But the episode underscored the extraordinary leverage the billionaire holds over critical government functions — and how easily that power can be politicized. Screenshot: @elonmusk/XThe big picture: The conflict between two of the world's most powerful men seemed like it was quickly barreling toward mutually assured destruction.Musk, who spent nearly $300 million to support Trump and GOP candidates in 2024, views the swelling deficit as an existential threat, and has promised to target any Republican who votes for the bill.GOP lawmakers, many of whom have spent years terrified by the prospect of a Trump-backed primary threat, are now praying the president's endorsement is worth more than Musk's war chest.Between the lines: Some pro-Trump activists seized the opportunity to claim vindication for their skepticism of MAGA's tech alliance, some of which dates back to an early but revealing debate over H1-B visas.MAGA whisperer Steve Bannon called for the South African-born Musk to be investigated and deported — and for SpaceX to be seized by the U.S. government.Some prominent influencers, such as Charlie Kirk, urged reconciliation between two of the American right's most influential power centers.The bottom line: Trump reached for a surprising analogy Thursday when discussing the war between Russia and Ukraine: two kids scrapping in the park who need to fight it out a bit before separating.Within hours, top Republicans in Washington were wondering if that's what they were seeing between Trump and Musk.Could they sit this one out until the punching stopped? Or would the two biggest kids on the playground just keep swinging — and bruise the entire movement?

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