Why Elon Musk is so important for Donald Trump. Part 1.

In the world of big personalities and even bigger ambitions, few figures are as perfectly matched as Donald Trump and Elon Musk. For weeks now, Musk, the visionary behind Tesla and SpaceX, has been an ever-present figure at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, soaking in the reflected glory of the former president's aura while simultaneously sharing some of his own. Musk has become more than just a benefactor to Trump—he’s a vital ally, a fellow disruptor in a world of antiquated systems. And as Trump sets his sights on a second presidential term, he needs Musk more than ever.

The latest display of their budding bromance was at the highly anticipated launch of SpaceX’s Starship, where Trump, sporting a red MAGA (Make America Great Again) hat emblazoned with both a “45” and a “47,” took up his now-familiar position alongside Musk. Trump, ever the showman, seemed to revel in the spectacle of the rocket’s takeoff, even joking about the possibility of the booster crashing into the gantry.  Despite some technical hiccups with the launch, the event highlighted Musk’s genius—revolutionizing space exploration and reshaping the future of human spaceflight in a way Trump has long admired.

But this alliance is more than just starry-eyed admiration for each other. Trump sees in Musk a powerful force that can help him achieve his lofty goals of dismantling government bureaucracy. The president-elect has tapped Musk, alongside Vivek Ramaswamy, to head his Department of Government Efficiency, a position that could give Musk unprecedented sway over federal policies. If Musk can shake up industries such as aerospace and electric vehicles, imagine what he could do to the government itself. The synergy between Trump’s populist rhetoric and Musk’s libertarian instincts is potent—and potentially dangerous. Musk’s influence over technology and national security, combined with Trump’s executive power, could open the door to massive deregulation and market manipulation that directly benefits the billionaire’s business interests. That can then be couched as the best way to end unnecessary government interventions in enterprises.