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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Joe Sommerlad

White House chief of staff agrees Musk had ‘fatherly fixation’ with Trump

  • Donald Trump's White House Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles, has discussed the brief friendship between Trump and Elon Musk during an interview aired on The New York Post’s Pod Force One podcast.
  • Musk, who contributed over $288 million to Trump's campaign, was appointed a special adviser but departed the role in late May.
  • The relationship soured due to profound disagreements, notably over Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' and its effect on national debt, leading to a public feud.
  • Wiles described the friendship's conclusion as “troublesome” but praised Musk as a “fascinating person”. She also agreed with the host’s suggestion Musk “had a sort of fatherly fixation” with Trump.
  • The dispute escalated with personal accusations, including Musk's claims about Jeffrey Epstein files and Trump's threats of deportation, prompting Musk to launch the America Party.

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