Donald Trump and Elon Musk might be heading for a breakup, and it’s not the kind of split anyone saw coming. You see, even before he officially takes back his Oval, the president is already dealing with whispers that Elon has more influence over his presidency than anyone should.
If they go their separate ways next year, the fate of their ambitious project, the Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E) would be thrown into chaos.
“Let’s get one thing straight,” Trump reportedly said onstage in Phoenix during Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest conference. “No, he’s not going to be president, that I can tell you. And I’m safe. You know why he can’t be? He wasn’t born in this country.”
The crowd ate it up, chanting Trump’s name as smoke and sparklers lit up the stage. Trump stood in his signature red tie, basking in the attention.
Tensions rise as Elon overshadows Trump
The partnership between the billionaire tech mogul and the president started with grand promises but has begun to look like a ticking time bomb.
Elon isn’t exactly shy about shaking things up. Just last week, he helped derail an emergency spending measure in Congress, an act that made headlines and left the Democrats and even some Republicans fuming.
Elon’s unpredictable nature, coupled with his growing political influence, has started to rub Trump the wrong way. Insiders say Trump is tired of Elon’s growing profile and doesn’t appreciate the shadow it casts over his administration.
The cracks began to show as Elon’s involvement in D.O.G.E started drawing more attention, especially as he seeks to defund organizations like the IRS and the Federal Reserve.
D.O.G.E’s mission is to slash up to $2 trillion in wasteful spending by cutting bloated agencies and eliminating useless regulations. Elon and Vivek Ramaswamy were handpicked by Trump to lead the charge, but Elon’s star power is overshadowing the president in ways he clearly doesn’t like.
“He’s not running the country. Not ever,” Trump declared, shutting down rumors that Elon might even want to run for office. “The Constitution says you have to be born here. He wasn’t. End of story.”
What happens to D.O.G.E without Elon?
For starters, D.O.G.E doesn’t have formal approval from Congress, which means it’s functioning more like a high-profile advisory group than an actual federal department.
Its goal to save $2 trillion by July 4, 2026—the 250th anniversary of American independence—sounds great on paper, but without Elon’s leadership, the chances of pulling it off shrink dramatically.
His reputation for innovation and his ability to disrupt entire industries are the kind of qualities this project depends on. Losing him would strip D.O.G.E of its most powerful asset. Vivek, while a capable entrepreneur in his own right, doesn’t have the same pull.
The US federal budget is $6.5 trillion annually, and Trump’s administration promised to find massive savings by dissecting every line of spending. Critics have already pointed out that these kinds of cuts could trigger layoffs, disrupt public services, and create chaos in government operations.
Without Elon, even those shaky plans might completely collapse. But the fallout from a Trump-Elon split would extend far beyond D.O.G.E. Trump’s supporters have embraced Elon as part of the team, seeing their partnership as a powerful alliance against Washington’s entrenched bureaucracy.
If Elon walks away, some of Trump’s base (especially the tech-savvy younger crowd and the wealthy donors who admire Elon’s vision) might follow him out the door. On the other hand, breaking ties with Elon could help Trump regain control over his own narrative.
But the risks are real. The Republican Party is already showing signs of internal division. House Republicans have been increasingly defiant, with some openly ignoring Trump’s directives.
Losing Elon could fire up these groups, making it even tougher for Trump to keep control of the party and push his agenda. It could also open the door for new GOP leaders who aren’t so tied to Trump’s populist style and lean more toward old-school conservative values.