Trump Chief of Staff Details Musk Relationship, Downplays White House Spat

Susie Wiles, President Donald Trump's chief of staff, revealed insights into the complicated and ultimately troubled relationship between Trump and Elon Musk. Wiles described their connection as akin to a father-son relationship, noting Musk's unique knowledge of people, technologies, and insights that were valuable during Trump's transition period. Despite Musk sometimes staying overnight at the White House and being closely involved in the 2024 campaign, the relationship deteriorated rapidly after Musk left the DOGE project in late May. Musk publicly criticized Trump’s administration, including calling for the release of the Epstein files and denouncing Trump’s domestic policy plan as leading to 'debt slavery.' Wiles expressed confusion over why the relationship soured, calling the ending 'very troublesome' but refraining from detailing the specific reasons behind the fallout. Both Wiles and Musk acknowledged a significant personal and professional connection that unfortunately ended on a sour note.