When we last dropped in on Washington’s version of the Hatfields and McCoys — could it have been only yesterday? — Steve Bannon had entered the scene to mix things up by suggesting a multi-pronged investigation of Elon Musk, whom he apparently considers to be the country’s Public Enemy #1.

So let’s catch up on the last 24 hours.

Later on Saturday, when asked by NBC News if he thought the relationship was at an end, Donald Trump himself replied, somewhat tersely: “I would assume so, yeah.” [Brandon Drenon, BBC News, June 7, 2025.]

As to Musk’s earlier threats to back Democratic candidates in the next elections, Trump said there would be “serious consequences” if that were to happen. But in a telephone interview with NBC News, he declined to comment further on what those consequences might be.

He did say — as to Steve Bannon’s suggestion of an investigation of Musk — that he had not yet had any discussions on that subject, and added that he had not thought about terminating any of the U.S. government’s contracts with Musk’s companies.

And when asked about the possibility of trying to repair their relationship, he replied:

“No. I have no intention of speaking to him.” [Nandita Bose, Reuters, June 7, 2025.]

The spark that ignited this bonfire seems to have been Musk’s criticism of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” of which Trump is so nauseatingly proud: over 1,000 pages of what Musk — who would like us to believe he’s grown a conscience — called a “disgusting abomination” that would actually increase the budget deficit by some $2.4 trillion dollars over the next ten years. But Trump remains confident that the Senate will pass the bill by the upcoming 4th of July holiday, saying, with his usual brilliant clarity and articulation:

“In fact, yeah, people that were, were going to vote for it are now enthusiastically going to vote for it, and we expect it to pass.” [Id.]

And then the parrot so often seen perched on Trump’s shoulder, JD Vance, tossed in his two cents’ worth of gobbledegook, calling Musk’s criticism a “huge mistake,” and adding:

“I’m always going to be loyal to the president, and I hope that eventually Elon kind of comes back into the fold. Maybe that’s not possible now because he’s gone so nuclear. But I hope it is.”

And then Vance inexplicably described Musk as an “incredible entrepreneur.” [Id.]

I just wish those two — Frick and Frack, or Abbott and Costello, or Trump and Vance, or whatever their names are — would get their stories straight before opening their mouths. Because we members of the public would really like to understand what the hell they’re saying.

Or maybe that’s the whole idea . . .

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
6/8/25