Between Elon Musk and Donald Trump, as we know, the relationship was on the rocks after the setbacks of the former at the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). But in reality, it was the actions of a close friend of Elon Musk, Jared Isaacman, who ignited the powder, recounts this week the Washington Post. Appointed head of NASA in January at the suggestion of the Tesla boss, the latter found himself at the heart of a controversy in May. A government report revealed that he had made substantial donations to several elected Democrats. Enough to horrify the American president, who immediately suspended Isaacman from his functions.
The same week, Elon Musk, who had just resigned from DOGE, could not digest the sidelining of his ally NASA – which finances Musk’s space exploration company Space And even announced the creation of his own party, in direct competition, therefore, with the Republican Party (GOP). This last element immediately alarms American Vice-President JD Vance, worried about seeing the Republicans lose the majority in the 2026 midterms.
Mediation over several months and through intermediaries
Neither one thing nor two, JD Vance then improvised himself as a mediator between the American president and his former financial support. A reconciliation operation which will take several months, and involve several close to Elon Musk, to achieve its ends, reports the Washington Postwho interviewed more than a dozen people familiar with the relationship between the two men.
As the months passed, Trump and Vance’s advisers came to the following conclusion: Elon Musk’s support involves higher demands than those usually set by wealthy donors. The Tesla boss is sometimes eager to capture the attention of the media – and to direct policy according to his own vision of the world. “He likes this role of kingmaker”, explains to Washington Post a close friend of the billionaire. For his part, Elon Musk agrees to stay away from politics and leave room for his allies. He even dares a bold comparison: “Is the Buddha necessary for Buddhism? Was he not stronger after his disappearance?”
Successful reconciliation operation?
The patching operation led by JD Vance ultimately ended in success, at least in appearance: Jared Isaacman returned to his position at the head of NASA and Elon Musk will even be invited to the White House in November for a dinner with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman. But another event, completely external to JD Vance, also contributed to Elon Musk’s abandonment of his third party project: the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Assassination following which the billionaire would have decided to inject his funds into existing conservative groups rather than founding his own party.
The game has calmed down between the two men, and JD Vance has a lot to do with it. But according to several close to Trump and Musk, the truce remains fragile. And could have an impact on the rest of the career of Vance, who far from being a disinterested mediator, of course has the support of Musk if he formalizes his candidacy for the next presidential election…
