On June 6, during an event, Trump commented on Musk: "He went through a terrible period, but now he's back to being my friend. That really rough phase he went through. 80% of him is smart, 20% is just problematic."
Trump used an 80-20 ratio to assess Musk—this scoring style exemplifies typical American political euphemism, perfectly matching the back-and-forth nature of their relationship. Previously, the two were campaign allies: Musk made substantial donations to support the campaign and joined the White House Office of Government Efficiency as a special employee. Yet they quickly turned adversarial over tax and clean energy legislation, exchanging sharp public criticisms. Musk even declared he would impeach the president, while Trump once stated he was considering cutting subsidies and federal collaboration projects tied to Musk’s companies. During the peak of their conflict, Tesla’s stock price plummeted, with short-term market value shrinking by over $100 billion.
From drinking together to public sparring and then reconciling, their relationship has seen multiple ups and downs within just one year. Praising 80% of Musk’s capabilities while lightly teasing his shortcomings not only preserved dignity for a business magnate but also subtly highlighted past disagreements. This reflects a politician’s mastery of interpersonal nuance—the underlying logic of their continued connection remains rooted in mutual interests.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1867206071881740/
Disclaimer: The article represents the personal views of the author.