The stress between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk lastly burst into the open Thursday, doubtless closing the chapter on one of the vital important alliances in current political historical past.
Within the wake of the schism, some Republicans are caught within the center debating their subsequent strikes. Do they aspect with Trump, the chief of the social gathering whose affect and authority looms over so many elements of life? Or do they again Musk, whose huge fortune might present a lift to anybody operating for reelection — or operating to succeed Trump in 2028 — whilst he threatens to withhold donations to lawmakers who again the Republican megabill? Might they try to appease each?
Musk, 53, is already drawing a future-forward line between himself and Trump, 78, and urging Republicans to come back to his aspect.
“Some food for thought as they ponder this question,” Musk wrote on X in response to far-right activist Laura Loomer questioning how Republicans would react. “Trump has 3.5 years left as President, but I will be around for 40+ years.”
Listed below are the Republicans who we’re watching intently to find out tips on how to navigate the fallout:
JD Vance
The vice chairman and attainable inheritor to Trump’s political motion may very well be the most important loser of the blowout.
With Musk’s future potential marketing campaign contributions now in jeopardy, Vance, an anticipated 2028 presidential candidate, would have an incentive to mediate the connection. Vance wouldn’t need to jeopardize a donor relationship with Musk, however he additionally wants Trump’s help if he desires to inherit his base. He shall be constrained in how a lot he can realistically break from Trump if the feud continues.
Musk appeared to endorse Vance in ‘in an X post calling from Trump to be impeached and the vice president to take his place, suggesting their relationship remains intact for now. And the two appear to share some political stances, including supporting Germany’s far-right social gathering Various for Deutschland (AfD).
In April, after it was first reported that Musk meant to depart the White Home, Vance mentioned he anticipated Trump and Musk to stay shut, a seemingly awful prediction in hindsight.
“DOGE has got a lot of work to do, and yeah, that work is going to continue after Elon leaves,” Vance mentioned in April. “But fundamentally, Elon is going to remain a friend and an adviser of both me and the president.”
Ron DeSantis
The Florida governor has had a tortured relationship with Trump, his former political benefactor-turned-2024 rival who bulldozed him through the presidential marketing campaign.
However since Trump took workplace, DeSantis has publicly supported the president and signed into legislation a Florida immigration legislation that furthered Trump’s immigration agenda.
He’s additionally an enormous fan of Musk.
Musk was an early booster of the Florida governor’s failed presidential marketing campaign, providing to host a glitchy, error-ridden launch occasion through X Areas, the audio livestream characteristic on the Musk-owned social media web site. Musk additionally contributed $10 million to DeSantis’ marketing campaign earlier than he dropped out and endorsed Trump.
In Musk’s closing week as a part of the Trump administration, DeSantis praised his work main the Division of Authorities Effectivity and echoed Musk’s criticisms of the reconciliation bundle for not doing sufficient to cut back the deficit, calling the invoice “a betrayal of the voters.”
He went additional on Wednesday, singling out Musk in a fundraising solicitation.
“Elon Musk stood tall and took the hits to lead the fight on DOGE, cutting wasteful spending and exposing bloated government programs,” mentioned a fundraising electronic mail Wednesday from considered one of DeSantis’ political committees. “The media attacked him. The Left panicked. But now? Even Republicans in Congress are backing down.”
It’s unclear what DeSantis’ political future holds — he’s term-limited as governor from 2026 — however Musk’s backing might play a job in no matter he does subsequent.
A spokesperson for the governor’s political operation mentioned the fundraising language was authorised Could 29 — the day earlier than Trump ready to extol Musk throughout a pleasant send-off on the White Home.
Stephen Miller and Katie Miller
The Trump-Musk rift units up some potential awkwardness between Stephen Miller, Trump’s highly effective deputy chief of workers, and his spouse Katie Miller, who joined DOGE as an aide to Musk and left final week to work for the billionaire entrepreneur.
The New York Instances reported in January that Stephen Miller had been advising Musk on his political donations. But it surely’s unclear if that relationship continues to be robust. And after Musk began attacking the Republican megabill, Stephen Miller grew to become a staunch defender of the laws.
On Thursday, after Trump and Musk traded barbs, Musk appeared to unfollow Miller on X. If there was ever a path to peace between Trump and Musk, the Millers might play a job — or it might trigger a rift of their marriage.
Vivek Ramaswamy
As soon as tapped to co-lead DOGE with Musk, Ramaswamy break up off from the administration earlier than Inauguration Day and in the end mounted a run for governor of Ohio.
However the former presidential candidate, who raised his profile by passionately defending Trump within the 2024 Republican primaries, has at all times aligned himself with the cost-cutting, Libertarian model of conservatism that Musk embraces. Nonetheless, if Ramaswamy seeks to develop nearer to Musk within the vacuum left by Trump when he leaves workplace, he’ll have to beat the truth that Musk thinks he’s annoying.
David Sacks
Sacks, a South African entrepreneur, got here into Trump’s orbit by the use of Musk, and now heads synthetic intelligence and cryptocurrency coverage for the White Home. But when the White Home withdrawing Jared Isaacman’s nomination to go NASA is any indication, Sacks might not be lengthy for Washington.
However, Trump’s embrace of the crypto business — and Sacks’ function as crypto czar — might show to be tempting sufficient for Sacks to aspect with the president towards his longtime pal.
Thom Tillis
As Trump and Musk conflict over the reconciliation invoice, Senate Republicans are left to choose up the items as they proceed to argue over modifications to fulfill a minimum of 50 members and go the invoice. Tillis specifically is dealing with a troublesome reelection battle and will absolutely use robust help from Trump and Musk.
On Wednesday — day two of Musk tweeting assaults towards the invoice — Tillis informed CNN Musk is a “brilliant guy,” whereas noting he’s “got resources.”
With Republicans seeking to approve the invoice this summer time, Tillis may very well be pressured to take a aspect sooner than he may like. How he navigates the rift could provide a roadmap for different battleground Republicans forward of 2026.
Vance, DeSantis, Stephen Miller, Katie Miller, Ramaswamy, Sack and Tillis didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
