Overstepping, being too high-profile, aggressively pushing their own agenda- Has there been a rift between Musk and Trump's circle?

As the "closeness" between Musk and Trump increases, Trump's circle is becoming increasingly dissatisfied with Musk, feeling that Musk's various behaviors have "crossed the line." According to insiders cited by Politico, earlier this week, there were rumors that Trump might have a companion: not his wife Melania who stayed in Florida, but Musk, who privately expressed interest in accompanying Trump on a visit to President Biden. This made some Trump insiders even more annoyed. No boundaries, "overstepping" like a co-president They believe that Musk's involvement in Trump's previous election campaign had almost no boundaries, and now it is the same in his transition team. Initially in July, Musk spoke out for Trump shortly after Trump's assassination, causing a huge sensation and increasing the favorability of the "Trump circle" towards him. Earlier this week, Trump appointed Musk and former Republican primary candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the proposed "Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)" to jointly carry out "government efficiency work." And now, Musk has even been allowed to participate in the "sacred ceremony" of the White House's peaceful power transition, which has left the "Trump circle" feeling incredulous. Insiders believe that Musk is a bit self-righteous and is acting beyond his authority: "He has almost become a ridiculous disruptor, wandering around Mar-a-Lago, sneaking into high-level transition meetings, and 'inviting himself' to Trump's personnel decisions." Some people also said: "He acts like a co-president and makes sure everyone knows it. He definitely attributes the president's victory to himself... trying to make Trump feel indebted to him, but the president owes no one." In addition, before Trump appointed Musk, Musk had already been involved in some sensitive events. Last week, Musk participated in a conference call between Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky. Too high-profile, aggressively promoting own agenda Some of Trump's advisors are concerned that Musk doesn't understand the key to being effective in Trump's world: keeping a low profile. According to sources cited by CNBC, "Musk's involvement is too aggressive and may damage his standing in the long run." He said Musk has his opinions on everything and he is so strongly determined to share these opinions that he has started to "harass" Trump team insiders: "He wants to be seen as having a say in everything (although he doesn't)." Musk's behavior on social media is also noteworthy. Not only has he vigorously promoted Trump's policies through X, his super PAC has spent over $152 million to support Trump and other Republican candidates, with most of the funds coming from Musk himself. Additionally, he personally held rallies for Trump in key states like Pennsylvania and provided daily giveaways worth $1 million for registered voters. It is worth noting that Musk seems to be pushing his own agenda rather than focusing on Trump's agenda, as insiders say he has shown a too aggressive attitude towards Trump's second term policies. In the past week, Musk has posted a series of policy suggestions on the X app, including deporting immigrants and cutting government spending. Trump "protects" him, market speculation: may part ways Nevertheless, Trump himself seems not to mind Musk's attention and enjoys the attention of the world's richest man. Last week, Trump drove around with Musk in a golf cart, introducing him to club members and visiting the resort's gift shop together. Regarding external comments, Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump's transition period, said in a statement: "Musk and President Trump are great friends and outstanding leaders who are working together to make America great again. Musk is a business leader of generations, and our federal bureaucracy will surely benefit from his ideas and efficiency." Another spokesperson also said, "Musk is committed to the future of America, and he is willing to work with President Trump to ensure that our government operates more effectively and makes better use of American taxpayers' money." At a recent meeting with House Republicans, Trump also praised Musk for giving up his commercial interests during the campaign and dedicating himself without seeking anything in return. He jokingly said, "Musk won't go home, I can't get rid of him." However, despite their recent alliance, many speculate that given the ambitions and personalities of the two, they may eventually part ways. The relationship between Musk and Trump has been unstable for years. In 2022, Musk said Trump should "hang up his hat and ride off into the sunset," while Trump retaliated that without government subsidies, Musk would be "worthless." This article is a reprint from Wall Street Seen and heard, GMTEight editor: Chen Wenfang.