An opinion piece by Ronnie Law
We all recently witnessed the dramatic and very public unraveling of the relationship between Elon Musk, the head of Tesla and SpaceX, and the sitting President of the United States, Donald J. Trump. Their falling out wasn’t entirely shocking, certainly not to those who’ve followed the personalities and egos of the ultra-rich and powerful. I wasn’t surprised either. In fact, I had previously reflected on how being a billionaire demands not just money, but influence, leverage, and at times, political favor.
Both Elon Musk and President Trump (now back as President of the so-called “free world”) are billionaires, albeit from different generations and with vastly different approaches to power and public image. Though Musk holds the title of the world’s richest man, those rankings are, in many ways, relative. Wealth, after all, isn’t just about net worth, it’s about access, alliances, and sustainability.
The latest development in this saga stems from Musk's reaction to what he called the “big beautiful bill” , a piece of legislation that, by his account, threatens the electric vehicle (EV) industry by reducing or removing critical federal subsidies. This could well be the core reason behind the growing rift between the tech mogul and the commander-in-chief.
It’s no secret that Elon Musk’s EV empire has benefited enormously from government subsidies, contracts, and tax incentives. These financial supports helped turn Tesla into a global brand and made Musk a household name. So when a new bill surfaces that allegedly targets those very subsidies, it’s understandable why Musk would respond with indignation, and maybe even a sense of betrayal.
This situation raises an important and provocative question: Is Elon Musk the greatest welfare king who ever lived?
It's a bold claim, but not entirely unfounded. Musk has always positioned himself as a visionary entrepreneur disrupting the status quo, but much of that disruption has been quietly backed by taxpayer dollars. From space exploration to electric vehicles, the government has played a significant role in boosting his ventures, directly or indirectly.
Of course, Musk isn’t the only billionaire who has benefited from government assistance, but few have done it on such a large scale while publicly advocating for libertarian ideals and minimal government intervention. The irony isn’t lost on observers.
In the end, the feud between Musk and the President isn’t just about policy, it’s about power, pride, and perception. Whether Elon likes it or not, his rise wasn’t built in a vacuum. It was built, in part, with a generous lift from Uncle Sam.
And maybe, just maybe, it's time for Elon to take a breath, step back, and remember where some of that fortune really came from. A fight with the POTUS is a fight with Uncle Sam, and it would not be a smart fight.
I remain, as ever, your pal.
And to Mr. Elon: Please Relax. The rockets will still fly and colonizing Mars, is also still possible.