On the power chessboard across the Atlantic, two names are redefining the rules: Trump and Musk.
Trump is the spokesperson for populism; he stirs his supporters with simple and direct slogans, aiming to 'Make America Great Again' and attempting to reshape the glory of the American Dream. Musk, on the other hand, is entirely different; he is the tech guru of Silicon Valley, believing in the future, technology, and the stars. He sees traditional politics as outdated tools, while information and technology are the core of power.
The encounter between these two individuals is destined to be a clash of power and belief.
One wants to pull America back to the past, becoming an isolated mountain nation;
One attempts to establish a brand new global power system through information technology.
This conflict was seeded during the Capitol incident in 2021, continuing to ferment over the following years, and may ultimately drive the United States toward an unseen 'information coup.'
Act One: The Catalyst of the Capitol Incident
On the morning of January 6, 2021, Washington was shrouded in heavy gray mist, with an unsettling chill in the air.
In front of the Capitol, thousands of Trump's supporters gathered, wearing red MAGA hats, holding slogans of 'Election Fraud' and 'Re-election', shouting slogans in anger. Their rage and resentment seemed ready to destroy the Capitol in one fell swoop. The crowd's fury grew stronger, and even the police on-site felt threatened.
Far away in Florida's Mar-a-Lago, Trump sits in his lavishly decorated private dining room, watching the live coverage of the protest on television. A complex smile plays on his face, a mix of satisfaction and underlying anxiety. He takes a big bite of a McDonald's burger and says to an assistant beside him, 'Look at these people; they love America; they know the truth.'
However, his supporters were not satisfied with mere demonstrations. They began to break through police lines, forcefully pushing down metal barriers. The sound of shattering glass and the cries of protesters intertwined, becoming the main theme of Washington that day. Minutes later, groups of protesters stormed the Capitol, smashing windows, overturning tables, and even entering meeting rooms to take 'victory selfies.'
All of this was broadcast live around the world.
On the other side of the planet, in a meeting room at the Shanghai Gigafactory, Musk sits at the head of the table. In front of him is a report on Tesla's production capacity, but his gaze is fixed on the iPad screen handed to him by an assistant—CNN is broadcasting the Capitol incident live. His brow furrows, and his expression reveals a complex sense of appreciation. He softly says, 'This is not an ordinary protest; this is a power that can change history.'
On this day, the chaos at the Capitol became the focus of global media attention. For Trump, this was a counterattack after his election loss; for Musk, it was a public lesson on the power of populism.
Act Two: Trump's Decline and Musk's Ambition
The aftermath of the Capitol incident quickly spread. The Democratic Party and mainstream media united to launch a comprehensive reckoning against Trump.
'Punishing Trump' became the main theme of 2021:
Account Suspension
Social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook simultaneously suspended Trump's accounts, stripping him of the tool to communicate directly with 80 million followers. This was the first time in his political life that he was forced to 'silence.'
Criminal Charges
A series of criminal lawsuits followed one after another, forcing Trump to shuttle back and forth between the courts and public view.
Family Betrayal
Even his daughter Ivanka publicly expressed disappointment about the Capitol incident. This statement left Trump isolated.
Mainstream opinion unanimously believes that Trump's political life has come to an end. However, far away in Silicon Valley, Musk has a different perspective. At a private gathering, he told friends: 'They underestimate Trump, but they underestimate even more the group behind him.'
In March 2021, Musk officially topped the Hurun Global Rich List, becoming the richest person in the world. His accumulation of wealth reached its peak, and his ambition for power began to quietly sprout.
In public, Musk continues to play the role of a 'woke' tech leader. He supports environmental causes, advocates for decentralized technological revolutions, and even publicly criticizes Trump on Twitter as 'the embodiment of a democratic crisis.' But behind the scenes, his actions are entirely different.
In April 2022, Musk proposed a shocking plan to the world: to acquire Twitter for $43 billion.
This is not only a business deal but also a political gamble. He knows well that social media is no longer merely a tool for disseminating information, but a weapon for influencing public perception. By controlling Twitter, he can control public opinion and even change the course of history.
Despite the Twitter board's attempt to prevent the acquisition through a 'poison pill plan', Musk remained unfazed. Six months later, he successfully completed the transaction for $44 billion and renamed it 'X.'
Act Three: Musk's Transformation and the Democratic Dilemma
2022, a pivotal year.
With the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, the Biden administration was forced to invest substantial resources in aiding Ukraine. However, the consequences of this war quickly fermented within the United States: inflation soared, energy prices surged, and the living costs of the lower class dramatically increased. The White House continually issued statements claiming that 'the U.S. economy is recovering,' but the reality is that the price of eggs in supermarkets has nearly doubled, and gas prices have become burdensome for many middle-class families.
Meanwhile, the U.S.-Mexico border issue escalated. The Biden administration terminated the border wall plan from Trump's administration, leading to a surge of illegal immigrants and a sharp deterioration of public safety in border towns. Every day, news of shootings, robberies, and zero-dollar purchases flooded mainstream American media.
Musk keenly grasped all of this; he realized that this was the best time to redefine the power structure.
However, that year, his private life also experienced tremendous upheaval. His eldest son Xavier formally applied to the court for gender transition, becoming a woman and publicly announced his intention to sever ties with his father. This incident not only turned into a family crisis for Musk but also made him realize the profound impact of 'woke culture' on society.
Musk publicly criticized the transgender movement and the 'woke virus' for the first time on Twitter. His remarks quickly sparked controversy but also garnered support from some MAGA groups. He has never publicly admitted to being a supporter of Trump but began to present himself with a 'MAGA mask,' gradually rallying this political force.
However, this is just a tactic; Musk's goals far exceed the scope of MAGA. He clearly knows that his beliefs are not populism, but a technological doctrine that transcends nations and ideologies:
Social Darwinism;
Technological capitalism;
Egoistic superhumanism.
In Musk's blueprint, America is merely his power testing ground, and technology is his true tool of power.
Act Four: The Rift Between Musk and Trump
In early 2023, the atmosphere in Washington was tense and subtle.
Musk sits in the Twitter headquarters office, and the screen in front of him displays MAGA supporters thanking him for unblocking Trump's account. He smiles gently, picks up a cup of coffee but does not drink. His gaze turns to the window, as if calculating something.
At the same time, Trump held a secret meeting at Mar-a-Lago. His advisory team clearly stated that Musk's intentions should not be underestimated; his actions more resembled an attempt to control the entire MAGA movement rather than support Trump.
'Musk, who does he think he is? He will never understand what our beliefs are!' Trump said angrily, slamming his hand on the table. His advisors remained silent; they knew that the former president's anger was building, but no one dared to directly refute Musk's importance.
The key reason for the gradual split between the two lies in their completely different definitions of power:
Trump's MAGA movement is centered around populism; he believes his strength comes from the loyalty of grassroots supporters.
Musk, on the other hand, believes in the power of technology and capital. He sees Trump merely as a pawn in the power chess game, a temporary tool.
Divisions gradually became public. In May 2023, Musk mentioned in an interview: 'We should not fear artificial intelligence; what we should truly worry about is foolish leaders.' Although he did not name anyone, the Trump camp quickly interpreted this as a veiled criticism of Trump.
Act Five: The Prelude to an Information Coup
In 2024, the preparations for the U.S. election are in full swing.
Behind the MAGA movement, Musk's Silicon Valley tech group is accelerating its expansion. He has successfully acquired CNN and is integrating it into Twitter's operational system. He launched a brand new algorithm on the Twitter platform that can analyze user sentiment in real-time and push customized political content based on user interests.
The Trump team realized that Musk's Twitter was no longer a neutral platform. It was more like a weapon, a tool capable of shaping public perception. A senior advisor to Trump said in a meeting: 'If we cannot control public opinion, winning votes is meaningless.'
Meanwhile, Musk's actions became bolder.
He publicly announced that he would issue token rewards to every Twitter user participating in the election to encourage 'real and transparent voting.'
The non-profit organization he funded began running a large number of advertisements in key swing states, promoting the idea that 'technology changes the world,' indirectly implying that Trump's 'outdated' policies would hinder America's future.
This information war is not only a power experiment but also a global technological revolution. Musk is testing whether controlling information can directly influence election outcomes. If successful, this will be one of the most disruptive transformations in modern political history.
Conclusion: Inevitable Confrontation
In November 2024, the United States welcomed the new election.
Trump stands on a stage in Florida, addressing thousands of supporters. His voice is hoarse but filled with passion: 'This is not an ordinary election; it is a struggle for the soul of America!' Cheers erupt from the crowd, and the MAGA flag waves in the air.
Meanwhile, Musk was in a high-tech conference room in Silicon Valley, watching the data analysis results from CNN and Twitter. His team reported that the algorithm he launched could accurately predict voter tendencies and even change 5% of vote directions through content pushing.
Trump emphasizes tradition and faith, while Musk shapes a futuristic utopian vision through technological means. Two completely different power models make future conflicts inevitable.
So what will be the outcome of this confrontation in the future?
The final answer has yet to be revealed, but it is certain that the impact of this power struggle will far exceed the United States, even transcending the Earth itself.
What is future power? Who will control the destiny of humanity? This 'information coup' will reveal the answer.
