Could Musk-Trump feud stoke GOP divisions ahead of midterms? ANALYSIS

Even by the requirements of President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk’s relationship — an unprecedented alliance punctuated by a meme-inspired reshaping of the federal government, quite a few rocket launches, assassination makes an attempt, a quarter-billion-dollar political gamble and electrical automotive photo-ops — it has been an uncommon week.

For months, Musk had been the closest of Trump’s advisers — even dwelling at his Mar-a-Lago property in Florida and spending time with the president’s household.

Extra just lately, Trump gave Musk a congratulatory Oval Workplace sendoff from his work main cost-cutting efforts in his administration, giving him a golden key with a White Home insignia.

However the billionaire’s muted criticisms of Trump’s “massive, stunning invoice” grew louder and extra pointed, culminating in posts Thursday on his social media platform taking credit score for Trump’s November win and Republicans’ takeover of the Senate.

“With out me, Trump would have misplaced the election, Dems would management the Home and the Republicans could be 51-49 within the Senate,” Musk posted. “Such ingratitude.”

Some lawmakers and Republicans fear Musk’s obvious acrimonious departure from Trump’s orbit might create new uncertainties for the get together — and stoke GOP divisions that will not serve Republicans nicely heading right into a vital legislative stretch earlier than the midterm elections.

The back-and-forth assaults, which continued into the weekend and took a sharply private flip, reverberated throughout a capital they’ve each reshaped.

“The individuals have spoken. A brand new political get together is required in America to characterize the 80% within the center! And precisely 80% of individuals agree,” Musk posted Friday night after conducting a ballot on X on whether or not america wanted a brand new political get together. “That is destiny.”

Trump on Friday advised a number of reporters over the telephone that he was not serious about Musk and advised ABC Information Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl that Musk had “misplaced his thoughts.”

Within the close to time period, Trump and the GOP try to muscle their signature tax and domestic policy megabill by the Home and Senate, with the slimmest of margins and no scarcity of disagreements.

Any shift on the important thing points might topple the high-wire act wanted to please Home and Senate Republicans.

A nonstop torrent of criticism from Musk’s social media megaphone might collapse negotiations, harden the place of the invoice’s critics and even undermine different items of Trump’s first-term agenda.

“You hate seeing division and chaos,” Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., who represents a swing district, advised ABC Information in regards to the Trump-Musk fracas. “It isn’t useful.”

Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, the chairman of the Home Price range Committee, referred to as Musk a “credible voice” on “debt and spending” points.

“It is by no means useful when he says these issues. He is a plausible individual and he has a broad attain, however I believe he is pissed off and folks perceive the context,” Arrington mentioned, predicting that each males will ultimately resolve their dispute.

Republican operatives watching the spat unfold this week advised ABC Information it’s too early to say how the feud between Trump and Musk might have an effect on the subsequent election.

The billionaire spent greater than anybody else on the final election, pouring $270 million into teams boosting Trump and different Republicans up and down the poll, in response to Federal Election Fee filings.

He already advised he would reduce on his political donations subsequent cycle, greater than a 12 months out from the midterm elections.

Within the ultimate stretch of the 2024 race, he relocated to Pennsylvania, internet hosting city halls and bankrolling his own get-out-the-vote effort within the vital swing state.

Since his foray into Washington, Musk has change into a deeply polarizing and unpopular determine, whereas the president’s approval rating has ticked up in some latest surveys.

Teams affiliated with Musk spent $20 million this spring on the Wisconsin Supreme Court docket race, just for the liberal candidate to win — signaling to some Republicans the boundaries of Musk’s political pull.

Whereas his help could also be missed by Republicans subsequent cycle, Trump has continued to lift tens of millions of {dollars} to help his future political plans, a exceptional sum for a term-limited president that underscores his central position within the get together and undisputed kingmaker standing.

Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., who’s mulling a gubernatorial bid in 2026, downplayed the tensions or political implications, suggesting that reporters “spend far more time worrying about this stuff than most common individuals.”

“I am certain they may make peace,” Lawler advised ABC Information on Friday.

There have been some indicators of a détente. Whereas Musk continued to hurl insults at Trump ally and critic Steve Bannon, his social media exercise appeared to chill off on Friday, and the billionaire mentioned one supporter was “not improper” for saying Trump and Musk are “a lot stronger collectively than aside.”

“I’m not serious about Elon Musk. I simply want him nicely,” Trump advised reporters Friday night.

And in a single day into Saturday morning, Musk appeared to delete a few of his most important posts of the president.

By means of practically a decade in politics and three campaigns for the White Home, Trump has demonstrated a exceptional capability to maneuver previous disputes or disagreements with many intraparty rivals and onetime critics, together with some who now serve in his Cupboard.

Now, some Republicans left Washington this week asking themselves if Musk is prepared to do the identical.