SpaceX vs. MAGA: Drawing the battle lines between the billionaire and the brand

What happens when the sun and a star both decide they're the center of the universe? A supernova of petty tweets, wounded pride, and threats involving space rockets and federal contracts.

In a breakup messier than a Kardashian divorce, Trump and Musk—once mutual sycophants exchanging awkward praise and backroom favors—have gone full scorched Earth. It all started when Musk dared to criticize Trump’s “big, beautiful” spending bill, prompting the president to suggest maybe Musk should go play with his rockets elsewhere (preferably without government money).

Musk, offended that his emotional support billionaire status was being revoked, fired back by threatening to shut down space operations and maybe expose Trump’s name in the Epstein files. Subtle.

Trump, never one to be out-petulanted, hinted that SpaceX and Tesla might lose government funding, and also that Musk had “gone CRAZY,” which, coming from Trump, is a bit like being called dramatic by a telenovela villain.

The whole feud is now an ego cage match streamed in real time on social media, complete with subtweets, polls about launching new political parties, and the kind of high school energy that ends with someone keying someone else's Tesla. MAGA is aghast. Tech bros are torn. Democrats, meanwhile, are enjoying a rare day off from being the national punching bag.

In short: Trump and Musk are at war, Republicans are hiding under desks, Democrats are popping popcorn, and America remains held hostage by the world’s pettiest midlife crisis.

Somewhere in Washington, a lonely Tesla sits outside the White House—abandoned like the bromance that once was.

Robe Rogers - Andrews McMeel

Nick Anderson - Tribune Content Agency

Tom Stiglich - Creators

Mike Luckovich - Creators

Pedro Molina - Counterpoint Media

Chip Bok - Creators

Matt Wuerker - Andrews McMeel

Clay Bennett - Counterpoint Media

Clay Jones - Claytoonz

Bill Bramhall - Tribune Content Agency

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