One reason Elon Musk shouldn't mind being called 'crazy' by Trump

US President Donald Trump publicly called Elon Musk “crazy” on Thursday, intensifying a bitter feud between the two billionaires — one holds the top constitutional post in America, arguably the most powerful office in the world, and the other the richest man on the planet. Their feud is now the talk of the town, though there are signs of thaw, with the White House contextualising their public spat with each preferring their own social media platforms to fire salvos at the other — Musk on X and Trump on Truth Social.

Speaking at the White House on Thursday, Trump said , “I asked him to step down. I rescinded his EV Mandate that compelled everyone to purchase Electric Vehicles that nobody else desired (which he was aware I would do for months!), and he simply went CRAZY!”

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He further threatened to terminate government contracts for Musk’s companies, saying, “The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts. I was always surprised that Biden didn’t do it!”

Musk, who had recently stepped down from leading the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), fired back on social media, accusing Trump of “such ingratitude” and claiming, “Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House, and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate.”

Musk also alleged that Trump’s name appears in the sealed Jeffrey Epstein files, suggesting this was the “real reason they have not been made public”. This came as the “real big bomb” that Musk dropped on Trump, signalling an end to their alliance had crumbled under the weight of their respective ambitions and ideas.

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The Putin parallel: ‘Absolutely crazy’ yet indispensable

Trump’s use of “crazy” to describe Musk echoes his earlier description of Russian President Vladimir Putin as “absolutely crazy”. Despite this harsh outburst, Trump’s dealings with Putin have often been soft marked by caution and a reluctance to impose strong penalties. This contradiction is telling. This conveys that Trump calling someone “crazy” in political rhetoric does not necessarily preclude cooperation or strategic accommodation.

Similarly, Musk’s stance on Russia and the Ukraine conflict reveals a complex balancing act. While Musk’s SpaceX provides Starlink satellite internet to Ukraine, he has also been criticised for being soft on Russia and for threatening to cut services to Ukraine under certain conditions. This ambivalence mirrors the pragmatic, sometimes contradictory approach Trump took with Putin — publicly critical yet privately conciliatory.

Why Musk need not bother

Being called “crazy” by Trump, therefore, might be less an insult and more an acknowledgement of Musk’s unconventional and unpredictable influence. Trump himself has used the term to describe powerful figures whose actions disrupt norms and expectations, yet remain central to geopolitical dynamics.

Musk’s ability to operate in grey zones — continuing his engagements in contentious circumstances, such as his dealings with Russia amid growing pressure to isolate Moscow and Putin, engaging with US political rivals including China, and wielding technological power — positions that make him a key player in a complex global landscape. His “crazy” label can be seen as recognition of his disruptive role rather than mere disparagement.

A badge of unconventional power

Musk can wear Trump’s ‘crazy’ tag as a badge of unconventional power. High-stakes politics and business go hand in hand. This is why Trump’s labelling someone as “crazy” actually masks deeper strategic realities. Putin and Musk may go down as quotable examples.

Just as Putin’s “craziness” has not diminished his geopolitical importance, Musk’s real global influence is likely to remain unchanged despite his streak of controversial actions and statements for quite long. Trump’s insult, therefore, could actually be less as a personal attack and more as a reflection of Musk’s unique position at the intersection of technology, politics, and global power. The White House statement saying that Musk has every right to speak for his company and that Trump can continue to fight for the country sums up this complex setting quite well.