We're not going to hurt each other, are we?

An old joke goes like this:

A woman is sitting in a dentist’s chair. Suddenly the dentist jumps.
“Madam, you are holding my testicals!”
“That’s right, Mr. Dentist. And we’re not going to hurt each other, are we?”

This post would be off-topic as too political except that Elon Musk is a businessman with companies that are listed on the stock market.

Also, it’s so much fun to watch these vicious egomaniacs attack each other. :wink:

8 Ways Musk and Trump Could Inflict Pain on Each Other

The falling-out between Elon Musk and President Trump went into overdrive on Thursday. Both men have powerful ways to keep it going.

By Kellen Browning, The New York Times, Updated June 6, 2025

The spectacular blowup on Thursday between President Trump and Elon Musk has ripped apart a shaky alliance between two of the world’s most powerful men. Their feud could have far-reaching consequences if it drags on or even escalates.

Here are eight ways they could inflict pain on each other.

What Musk could do

  • Wield his billions against Mr. Trump, his allies and his agenda. After spending more than $250 million to help elect the president, Mr. Musk could just as easily fund campaigns against Republicans… [Which could tip the shaky balance of power and throw the House and Senate to Democrats with Macroeconomic impact. – W]

Use his companies to inconvenience the administration. Mr. Musk wrote that he would “immediately” decommission SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, which transports NASA astronauts and supplies to and from the International Space Station. [Musk decided not to cut off his nose to spite his face after all. – W]

…snip other nasties …

What Trump could do

  • Cut contracts with Mr. Musk’s companies. On his own social media platform, Truth Social, Mr. Trump suggested that ending the government contracts with Mr. Musk’s various companies, including SpaceX and Tesla, would be “the easiest way to save money in our Budget.” Last year, Mr. Musk’s companies were promised $3 billion in nearly 100 contracts with 17 government agencies…

Revoke Mr. Musk’s security clearance. …Mr. Trump could fully revoke Mr. Musk’s clearance, which Mr. Musk has as part of the government contracts involving SpaceX’s work with NASA. That would make it very difficult for Mr. Musk to continue to work with the government…

…snip other nasties… [end quote]

https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/TSLA/chart/#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

Stay tuned. It’s quite a show.
Wendy

4 Likes

We have the president of the United States openly threatening private businesses over a political disagreement.

We have businessman openly complaining that the politician he bought didn’t stay bought.

The sheer brazenness of the corruption would make a banana republic dictator blush.

19 Likes

Somebody is an Illegal here and needs to be deported to El Salvador.

As noted before, typical “JC” carrying on.

Probably we both realize who is likely to be collateral damage.

Steve

Another perspective…

6 Likes

Shitshows where every participant sucks.

… providing a moral dilemma to innocent bystanders (which side to pick??)

Then again, the administration’s core competency is providing panem et circenses, and boy do they provide the latter.

3 Likes

Deport ‘em all. Let God sort ‘em out.

Cheers
Qazulight

2 Likes

It’s all just Kayfabe, baby!

1 Like

I think there’s a strong argument to be made that the Leon / Chump feud is pure Kayfabe. But let’s not forget that Kayfabe can be broken by participants crossing the line. Like saying…oh, I don’t know…someone may be guilty of colluding to sex-traffic minors. Seems to cross a line. Here are some other examples of Kayfabe-Breaking moments:

3 Likes

Yes, t-rump has been known to use people and throw them under the bus, so maybe that’s what’s happening, but I’m convinced it’s just a big fat distraction to get our minds off all the destruction and incompetence, and to appeal to the short term thinkers out there, lusting for the next thrill.

“Oh, what will they do next?! I’m not sure which one to love or hate most. This is so thrilling! Honey, get two corn dogs and a big gulp. I’m going to get a t-shirt of one of them when we leave.”

2 Likes