Is it a Rift or Just Business: Elon Musk vs. Donald Trump

Boy, how the tides turn in Washington. Once, Elon Musk was the quirky face of liberalism, and of course, Tesla's eco-friendly (kinda sorta) cars won over the tree huggers all caught in the web of the terrifying prospect of a global climate crisis.

Well, he's still quirky. Maybe even still a bit liberal.

But he's clearly leaned right, seeing more promise in a Trump presidency than a Harris one. Where are his allegiances? Well, it might just be that Elon Musk really doesn't have one. And hey, I'm not saying that's all bad. Who wants to be a sheep? Really, he's just being who he has always been. Elon Musk. A man who has always danced to his own tune, unapologetically doing what suits him in the moment, and not always really giving much of a damn what anyone thinks about it.

Really, hasn't controversy and Elon Musk always pretty much gone hand in hand?

His so-called rift with Trump now? Maybe it's just business. Without a doubt, his darling company, Tesla, took a major hit when he aligned with MAGA—dealerships and charging stations got bombed and the cars were attacked.

Look, it's no secret that Tesla buyers are mostly liberals. If Musk wants to sell cars, he has to restore the Tesla brand—and perhaps his own—by softening his conservative ties. Like it or not, if he's chasing profits, he has to appeal to the people buying, and that's not the MAGA crowd.

Musk's tactics? Disconcerting, to say the least—linking Trump to Epstein's list and suggesting he owed his presidency to him. But let's be honest, the Musk we see now is the same Musk we've always had. Same goes for Trump, really. When Elon Musk was launching his Tesla into outer space or Donald Trump was calling Rosie O'Donnell nasty names—what we see is what we get.

So, are we really all that surprised by Musk's moves? The product hasn't changed. Whether it comes to Trump or Elon Musk, they do seem to be genuine articles in that they speak what's on their mind and really aren't all that interested in what some people might think about that.

For whatever it's worth, and however uncomfortable it can sometimes make me, I can actually admire that. Who wants someone who cow toes like a sheep?

That's not to say that Musk's sudden sprint to the MAGA side didn't have an agenda behind it. Maybe it did. Maybe it didn't. We can't necessarily get deep into Musk's brain to figure out exactly what was on his mind.

We just know that Musk now seems to have sort of changed his mind.

But again, it may be more about business than anything. Or maybe he is actually a little bit crazy as I have always suspected. He's certainly always been able to stay in the news and on people's radars. Maybe that works for him. Maybe his antics work for him now going against Trump, even if, at the same time, it might leave more people on both sides more confused than convinced about what he actually thinks or where he actually stands.

Many might be asking, "Who's side are you really on, Mr. Musk?" Maybe the reality is that he's not on anyone's side. He's on his side. And really, when I look back at all the positions Musk has ever taken, that seems apparent that that's the only side he has ever been on.

Again, that's not necessarily a bad thing even if I don't entirely like or agree with what he's saying now.

What he has effectively done to now is to stir the pot really good and get everyone talking. Democrats. Republicans. MAGA people and liberals. 

Either way, whether this rift is a good thing or a bad thing is to be seen. Who knows what the outcome will ultimately be? He'll lose some new friends and regain some old ones, perhaps. He's done it before. I think it's likely he'll do it again.

Like I said, he's quirky. He's Elon Musk. This is what he does. It's what he's always done. Can you really get angry about it? Or do you just accept that this is what it is, take it for what it is, let the cards fall where they may, and go about our days?

In the meantime, watch what Tesla's stock does. What Elon Musk is at the end of the day is a master marketer, and he's a pretty damn smart businessman. Maybe not being able to actually know what side he's actually on is the best strategy he can have. And that might ultimately be what all this is really about.

Or he's subtly sending us a different message. That we aren't all that interested in ideas or truth as much as we're interested in agreeing with each other all the time.

Like the things I write about or the way I write about them? Follow me on my Facebook page to keep up with the latest writings wherever I may write them. Also, check out some of my other articles and commentary on HubPages or follow me on X at @jimbauer601.

© 2025 Jim Bauer

Tesla's Loss, Rivian's Gain?

Not long ago I thought that Donald Trump could present a boon for Rivian. But with all the angst against Tesla right now, my perspective on why that might be has shifted a bit—it's clear there's more at play than I initially anticipated. And frankly, who could have seen any of this coming?

Tesla is literally on fire.

That said, this isn't some seismic event, so it's not going to cause me to change my position on Rivian for the long term, nor do I think it potentially knocks Tesla out of the game. Sure, the left right now is in a tizzy over Elon Musk's presence in the White House running DOGE, but when heat gets applied to businesses, no matter who's applying the heat, it tends to be fleeting. Boycotts and protests, no matter how loud, usually fizzle out over time.

Take the Bud Light-Dylan Mulvaney controversy. It's mostly in the rearview mirror now. While some customers haven't come back, the stigma has cooled considerably. Even Kid Rock who once made headlines by shooting up a case of Bud Light, now says, "It's okay to drink Bud Light again." 

That's not to say there's no lingering impact. Yuengling, for instance, has seen a notable surge in popularity, likely fueled by those still upset with Bud Light, aiding their push into new markets.

Like some beer drinkers may have traded out of Bud Light and into Yuengling and other beers, Tesla owners are reportedly trading in their EVs at unprecedented rates—not for gas guzzlers, but for other electric vehicles from legacy automakers, and more interestingly, from startups like Rivian.

By the way, Rivian's lineup is already impressive, and with more affordable models on the horizon like the mid-size R2 SUV and the R3 crossover hatchback, they're poised to attract a whole new wave of customers.

Sooner or later, the protests targeting Elon Musk will lose momentum. But, as with the Bud Light controversy, scars may linger after the dust settles. This creates a chance for others to step in, capture interest, and expand their market share. 

As the saying goes, one man's misfortune can pave the way for another man's gain. My long-term outlook for Rivian remains unchanged, and I'm holding steady on my position. Still, it'll be worth watching to see if Rivian capitalizes on the moment while Tesla's negative hype is still buzzing.

Like the things I write about or the way I write about them? Follow me on my Facebook page to keep up with the latest writings wherever I may write them.

© 2025 Jim Bauer

You may also want to read:

Ford's Long Road: Why its Consistency Keeps me Invested
What's Next for Rivian Stock?
The Cost of Being Right
Tesla Could Become a Literal Powerhouse, But Not in the Car Market

Musk's Discoveries vs. Media Distraction: It's the Language Game at Play Here

Elon Musk is facing criticism in the media for repeatedly using the R-word, which, according to federal guidelines, he should use the term "intellectual disability," as mandated by Rosa's Law, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2010.

It's just more political correctness trying to take over the conversation. On the surface, is calling someone "intellectually disabled" really any different from using the R-word? If I tell someone they lack intellect, that's not really a compliment, is it?

Musk is using the term to describe his findings as DOGE delves deeper into the country's books, uncovering hundreds of billions of dollars in wasteful spending by our government at taxpayer's expense. Isn't it abundantly clear, when you really take a hard look at the growing list of what's being spent on, that the people responsible for the expenditures weren't making the wisest decisions when they deemed any of this as a responsible use of America's money?

What else could it be? People with intellectual disabilities or R-worded people? Essentially, it's describing the same thing, especially when you consider the broader definitions of both terms.

Of course, steering the language, which is what political correctness is really all about, serves to shape, redirect and lead the conversation towards a different narrative. Would the discussion change if Musk used terms like ignorant, stupid, dumb, idiotic or insane?

Perhaps. Perhaps not.

But regardless of what word is used, all of them accurately describe the spending Musk is referring to, including the R-word.

Criticizing Musk's use of the R-word is nothing more than a tactic to divert attention away from his findings and diminish their significance. The desired goal here, and Democrats and the media happen to be experts at this, is to shift the focus from the wasteful spending to Musk's character, thereby undermining his credibility and making his efforts appear more absurd than the wasteful spending DOGE is exposing.

It's not unlike a magician skillfully concealing his sleight of hand, showing you only what he wants you to see.

We've seen this exact same pattern in how the media and the Democrats portray President Trump. By focusing on his words and actions, we avoid discussing the actual impact of his decisions. It's a trick to effectively shift the conversation to a preferred narrative, rather than addressing the real issues underneath.

Ultimately, Musk has a manner of speaking much in the same way that President Trump has. They can be a bit over the top, and sometimes even insensitive. I will grant that. We don't have to like it, and it sometimes might even catch us off guard. But it shouldn't detract from the actual work being done, or in Musk's case, the discoveries being made. 

It's not so much about the words used; it's about the substance behind them that truly matters. And that's what all the hoopla is really about when Musk is criticized for the language he chooses to use—the substance of what's being uncovered.

It's like an old saying. If you can't win the argument, attack the person. They are attacking Elon Musk because they can't win the argument.

What Musk is uncovering is alarming, and that is of course what the Democrats and the media want us to turn our attentions away from. If they can effectively win the language game, maybe we won't see what's really going on behind the curtains.

Like the things I write about or the way I write about them? Follow me on my Facebook page to keep up with the latest writings wherever I may write them.

© 2025 Jim Bauer

From Frivolous Spending to Fiscal Sanity: The DOGE Agenda

Why would anyone want to argue over DOGE? Is it purely because they hold a disdain for Donald Trump or believe Elon Musk is a whack job? The reality is that the government has been engaging in reckless spending for generations, leading our nation into massive debt. The truth is no one really knows where all the money has gone or where it's being spent now. DOGE simply aims to tells us and put a stop to it in the interests of the American people. It's a matter of common sense at the most basic level.

So far, the revelations being brought to light should outrage anyone who (by force, it should be noted) dutifully pays their taxes to the federal government each year. One would have the reasonable expectation that the taxes we pay would at least contribute to provide essential services and improve the lives of American citizens.

But consider this. How does spending $20 million on airing Sesame Street programming in Iraq benefit Americans? Why are we allocating $6 million to Egypt to boost their tourism? And what is the purpose of sending $2 million to Guatemala for transgender surgeries?

When you witness the careless and appalling waste of our money, which offers no real value to the American people who are forced to foot the bill, it becomes even more infuriating that anyone would dare to call for additional funds from taxpayers under the pretense of "improving the lives of Americans."

Poverty remains a significant issue. We are continually told that we can't afford to strengthen our police forces. Cities in California are engulfed in flames with little support or relief for those affected. Our infrastructure is crumbling and desperately needs attention. The Social Security system and Medicare are under immense strain, and the list goes on.

It's high time we have someone in the White House who is willing to ask the tough questions and get to the bottom of where all the money is going. Americans should be celebrating this effort, not opposing it. When you take a deep dive into how the money is being spent, it becomes all too clear that we are being taken advantage of as a society, and it's all for the benefit of others, not for us. The funds are going towards special interests that don't align with the needs of the American people.

Even what we consider to be essential programs like FEMA are misusing our money. For instance, what does sending $59 million to New York City to pay for hotels for illegal immigrants have to do with disaster relief, especially when people affected by Hurricane Helene and the fires in California are still struggling? On top of that FEMA spent $110 million to assist illegal immigrants with food and shelter programs, and another $77 million was given to communities willing to accept illegal immigrants to help cover the associated costs. 

That alone is a significant amount of money being spent to accommodate people who shouldn't even be here in the first place.

Trump is aiming to uncover at least $2 trillion in wasteful spending, and from what we've observed so far—which I believe is merely the tip of the iceberg—we're likely to find even more. I mean, from what we've learned so far, this thing runs deep. Musk even recently suggested that Social Security benefits are being paid to people who are 150 years old, which can only mean one thing: these people are clearly dead, and their benefits continue to be collected by their descendants, or someone else is fraudulently receiving the payments.

The president is just doing what any sensible person would do if they looked at their finances and saw ballooning debt and obligations that far exceed their income. Just as a household or business would collapse without intervention, America faces the same risk. This situation is unsustainable and has been left unchecked for far too long. 

As has been emphasized, regardless of what the left wants to argue, DOGE is not targeting or eliminating essential services. Instead, it intends to identify and eliminate frivolous and absurd expenditures that serve no real purpose but cost taxpayers substantially. These funds could be better allocated within our government or returned to the American people to benefit the real economy.

It's just common sense.

Like the way I write or the things I write about? Follow me on my Facebook page to keep up with the latest writings wherever I may write them.

© 2025 Jim Bauer