Keeping track of the seemingly symbiotic working relationship between Donald Trump and Elon Musk has, over the past six months or so, become one of the world’s favorite pastimes. But seismic cracks have recently become too obvious to ignore. Musk has withdrawn from his beloved DOGE, and is said to be devoting full time to putting the pieces of his neglected (and publicly trashed) businesses back together.

The rift brings to mind a few historic pairings that once seemed inseparable, yet ended in disaster: Cain and Abel . . . Romulus and Remus . . . Samson and Delilah . . . Martin and Lewis . . . and those star-crossed lovers of popular song, Frankie and Johnny.*

[* Frankie and Johnny, Hughie Cannon, copyright 1904]

And in an odd moment of whimsy, with that tune firmly stuck in my head, I couldn’t resist borrowing the melody and offering these lyrics to today’s favorite couple. I bring you:

*. *. *

DONNIE and ELON

Donnie and Elon were brothers.
O, Lordy, how they would laugh.
They swore to be true to each other,
And cut the government in half.

They were so strong,
Then something really went wrong.

They brought their chainsaws to D.C.,
Firing folks left and right.
Slashing the jobs seemed so easy,
‘Til there was no one left in sight.

They had such fun,
But they were both Number One.

Elon spent mucho dinero
So Donnie could be president.
Thought he was being a hero,
’Til the relationship got bent.

What went awry,
To send Elon on the fly?

When they were each other’s besties,
No one knew what they were doin’.
Everything done on the q.t.,
But clearly somethin’ bad was brewin’.

Now Elon is gone.
So who was doing whom wrong?

Since both are as rich as old Croesus,
Status is likely to blame.
Donnie thinks he’s the new Jesus,
And doesn’t like to share the fame.

But Elon’s much richer,
And had to be in the picture.

E’s days in the White House were numbered,
His job temporary at best.
Through D.C.’s departments he lumbered,
Cutting costs with joy and zest.

But D’s “Big Beautiful Bill,”
E said was nothing but swill.

Most partnerships don’t last forever,
Sometimes even brothers must part.
Had Donnie and Elon been clever,
They would have seen it from the start:

They were doomed to fail.
Now they could both land in jail.

So what’s to become of the brothers
Who, though not related by blood,
Once sworn to be true to each other,
Are now reduced to slinging mud?

I guess that we
Will have to just wait and see.

They were so strong,
‘Til something went very wrong.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
6/3/25