Elon Musk is brilliant, no doubt, but brilliance won’t save him when Trump decides he’s had enough of Musk’s unchecked power at DOGE. In plain English, Musk’s DOGE crusade may seem bold now, but history is littered with bold men who ended up burned because they didn’t know when to hit the brakes.
Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s friendship feels like one of those reality shows where alliances are temporary, and betrayals are inevitable. How long will it last? Four years? Five? Maybe less. In politics, there are no permanent friends or enemies. Just take a look at the once rock-solid bond between Trump and Mike Pence. Seven years ago, Pence was Trump’s right-hand man, his loyal vice president, always standing by him. Today, they’re political enemies. Or consider J.D. Vance, who once compared Trump to Hitler. Fast forward to now, and he’s Trump’s Vice President. If that isn’t proof of how quickly loyalties shift in politics, I don’t know what is.
Elon Musk should take a good, hard look at these examples. He needs to go slow with his DOGE crusade because when the bottom eventually falls out between him and Trump—and it will—he’s going to need sympathizers. Not fewer, but more. His aggressive style might work in the tech world, but in politics, every move is scrutinized, recorded, and remembered. If he doesn’t tread carefully, he could end up like countless others who once basked in the glow of power only to find themselves tossed aside when the political winds changed.
Now, don’t get me wrong—I’m not saying government agencies like USAID should be allowed to use my tax dollars to pay for condoms for Afghan men or fund transgender programs in other countries. Far from it! That kind of spending is exactly what we should be cutting. My tax money should go toward things that actually matter: education, feeding starving children in war-torn countries, providing critical medication to refugees, and supporting people living in abject poverty. I’m all for trimming the fat in government spending, but Musk’s approach at DOGE needs to be a little more focused and a lot less reckless.
He’s already raised eyebrows with his radical cost-cutting ideas. Offering millions of federal employees incentives to resign might sound like a bold move, but it was done without proper consultation. Senior White House officials, including Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, were blindsided by his actions. That’s not how you build lasting political alliances. Musk’s Silicon Valley playbook doesn’t translate well in Washington, where power struggles and political payback are the norms.
The thing is, alliances in politics are about as stable as a house of cards. Just ask Michael Cohen, Trump’s former attorney and fixer. He was once Trump’s most trusted ally, fiercely defending him at every turn. Today? He’s one of Trump’s biggest critics, spilling secrets and writing tell-all books. Or take Chris Christie, who once campaigned passionately for Trump. These days, their relationship is colder than a January morning in New York. Even Steve Bannon, the architect of Trump’s 2016 victory, found himself kicked to the curb when his influence became too much.
Let’s not forget Rex Tillerson, Trump’s first secretary of state. Tillerson was initially seen as a heavyweight addition to the administration—a successful CEO turned diplomat. That relationship soured fast. By the end of Tillerson’s tenure, Trump fired him through a tweet. One day, you’re the most powerful diplomat in the world; the next, you’re reading about your termination on social media.
Then there’s John Bolton. Once Trump’s national security advisor, Bolton was a staunch supporter of the administration’s aggressive foreign policy. But their differences grew, and soon enough, Bolton was out. His tell-all book made headlines for exposing behind-the-scenes chaos in the White House. Friends quickly become whistleblowers in Washington.
Musk should recognize that the same thing could happen to him. His growing prominence in government might seem like a golden opportunity now, but political alliances shift in the blink of an eye. The very people cheering him on today could be plotting his downfall tomorrow. And when that happens, his DOGE crusade won’t be much of a shield.
It’s not just about his relationship with Trump; it’s about how he’s handling his mission at DOGE. He’s caught in a whirlwind of power, cutting programs left and right, while critics are already lining up to challenge his methods. Some are accusing him of dismantling crucial government services in the name of efficiency. Legal challenges are piling up. Public outcry is getting louder. And we all know what happens when political heat becomes too much—it burns.
Take Rudy Giuliani as a case study. He was once "America’s Mayor," the hero of 9/11, celebrated across the country. Today? He’s bogged down in lawsuits, abandoned by many of his former allies, including Trump himself. One minute you’re the golden boy; the next, you’re fighting for your reputation and freedom. That’s how quickly it can all change.
Musk needs to understand that politics is brutal, and it doesn’t care how many Teslas you’ve sold or how many rockets you’ve launched into space. When things turn south, they turn fast. If Musk keeps playing the game like this, it won’t be long before he’s on the outside looking in.
Even Jeff Sessions, Trump’s first attorney general, found himself tossed aside. Sessions was one of Trump’s earliest supporters, but when he recused himself from the Russia investigation, Trump never forgave him. Sessions went from being a key ally to an object of Trump’s public scorn. Musk would be wise to remember that loyalty in politics is only skin-deep.
I know some of you might be thinking, "But Musk is a genius! He’s different!" Sure, he’s brilliant. But being brilliant won’t save you when your political capital runs dry. That’s the nature of politics—it’s not about intelligence; it’s about strategy, timing, and knowing when to hold back.
Musk needs to take care of things at DOGE a little better. He should focus on managing government efficiency without alienating every potential ally in Washington. He needs to balance his drive for innovation with a dose of humility and political savvy. Because when the fallout happens—and it will—he’ll be glad he built a few bridges rather than burning them all down.
Politics makes strange bedfellows, and today’s friend is often tomorrow’s foe. Musk’s current friendship with Trump may seem solid, but history tells us that nothing in politics lasts forever. When it all comes crashing down, Musk will want to be remembered not just as the guy who shook things up, but as someone who left enough doors open to survive the aftermath. If he doesn’t? Well, we’ll be reading about his downfall in the next tell-all book.
Because in the end, there’s one thing Musk should know: in politics, you’re only as good as your last headline. And when the tide turns, you’ll wish you had a few more friends in your corner.
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