I love Trump as much as a straight man could, Elon Musk declares

Elon Musk, the billionaire tech entrepreneur, has voiced an unexpected declaration of affection for United States President Donald Trump.

“I love @realDonaldTrump as much as a straight man can love another man,” Musk declared in a post shared on X on Friday evening.

Musk’s post elicited reactions within minutes.

While some interpreted it as a lighthearted expression of respect or friendship, others questioned what triggered the erratic post.

THE ROCKY ROAD TO MUSK AND TRUMP’S FRIENDSHIP

The relationship between the world’s richest man and the two-time American president has been tumultuous.

Nearly a decade ago, their friendship was marked by disapproval, but in recent times, it metamorphosed into a rapid friendship.

In 2016, Musk publicly stated that Trump was unfit for office, saying he did not “seem to have the sort of character that reflects well on the United States”.

The following month, Trump appointed him to join his advisory council.

However, Musk later resigned after Trump withdrew the US from the Paris climate agreement, stating, “Climate change is real. Leaving Paris is not good for America or the world”.

Trump rekindled the relationship in 2020 by calling Musk a genius.

The olive branch was withdrawn after the president later referred to Musk as “another bulls*** artist” in 2022 at a free speech rally as he sought reelection, dismissing Musk’s enthusiasm to buy the microblogging platform—Twitter.

The Tesla CEO appeared to have forgiven Trump’s remarks as he reinstated the president’s Twitter account—a platform he renamed to X after acquisition—reversing a ban that had kept Trump off the microblogging site since the insurrection at the US Capitol.

Musk would later spend millions of dollars on Trump’s eventual reclaiming of the White House.

“Elon Musk spent $277 million to elect Donald Trump President. Since Election Day, he has become $154 billion richer. Not a bad return on his investment,” Bernie Sanders, US senator, posted on Tuesday.

The tech entrepreneur was also able to snag himself a role in the Trump administration, leading the department of government efficiency (DOGE), an agency he helped establish.

Both men continue to publicly share similar views on critical policies around immigration, free speech, governance, and human rights.

Critics have accused Musk of attempting to run the US government without following due process.