MAGA ‘knife-fighting’ is about to get a lot uglier, former Trump lawyer says

The relationship between Donald Trump and Tesla, SpaceX, and X.com leader Elon Musk has unraveled swiftly, marking a dramatic shift from public collaboration to personal and political hostility.

On Friday, May 30, Trump and Musk appeared side by side at the White House, where the president praised Musk for his contributions to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). At the media event, Trump acknowledged the conclusion of Musk’s work with DOGE but expressed optimism about future collaborations.

However, by the following week, tensions had escalated sharply. After Musk publicly condemned Trump’s flagship legislative proposal—referred to by the president as his “big, beautiful bill”—as a “disgusting abomination.”

Trump responded forcefully.

During a press conference on Thursday, June 5, he told reporters, “I’m very disappointed with Elon… Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore.”

In response, Musk has threatened to fund primary challengers against Senate Republicans who support Trump’s proposed legislation. The dispute has sparked further division within the conservative movement.

Prominent far-right figure and “War Room” host Steve Bannon has gone so far as to call for Musk, a South African native, to be deported.

During an interview on MSNBC’s Velshi on Saturday, Michael Cohen—Trump’s former personal attorney–predicted that infighting within the MAGA movement will get a lot uglier in the months ahead. He said that Trump would use the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), under Attorney General Pam Bondi, to aggressively target Musk.

“Elon Musk made a strategic error by escalating the conflict,” Cohen told host Ali Velshi. “While Musk may be the wealthiest individual in the world, Donald Trump remains the most powerful.”

Cohen described Trump’s inner circle as fiercely competitive, with many figures vying to be the one closest to the president. “Steve Bannon has always wanted to be, for example, the Michael Cohen… the Elon Musk, as many people do,” he said.

“And the knife-fighting that goes on behind closed doors by all the others is incredible.” He warned that while Musk may have once enjoyed a position of influence, Trump’s inner circle is marked by relentless internal power struggles that rarely end well for those involved.

“Everyone wants to be in Trump’s orbit 24/7,” Cohen said. “But it never ends well. It didn’t for Rudy Giuliani, and it won’t for Elon Musk.”

He also warned of the growing influence of Steve Bannon, whom he described as initiating a campaign reminiscent of authoritarian crackdowns on political dissent.

“Bannon is already talking about extreme actions—nationalizing SpaceX, revoking Musk’s immigration status. These are not idle threats,” Cohen said.

When asked whether reconciliation between Trump and Musk was still possible, Cohen was unequivocal: the relationship, he said, had been irreparably damaged.

He cited a tweet by Musk that implicated Trump in connection with the Jeffrey Epstein files—an accusation Cohen firmly denied, noting that during his years of close involvement with Trump, he saw no indication of any such involvement.

Cohen concluded with a dire warning for Musk. “Trump and his allies are preparing to unleash an unprecedented political assault,” he said.

“Elon doesn’t yet grasp the scale of political guerrilla warfare they’re prepared to wage. Trump is quietly mobilizing the DOJ and others to strike—without warning. That’s his playbook.”

Musk Courts the Left — But Democrats Remain Wary

As Elon Musk escalated his feud with Donald Trump — publicly denouncing the president’s legislative agenda and threatening to bankroll primary challengers — political observers noted a striking shift: Musk appeared to be courting favor with Democrats.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries amplified Musk’s critiques of Trump on social media, framing the dispute as proof of a Republican civil war.

The Democratic Party’s official X account even echoed Musk’s call for transparency regarding the Epstein files, suggesting a temporary alignment of interests.

Senator Cory Booker, however, offered a more grounded response. While he criticized Trump’s so-called “megabill,” Booker made it clear he would not accept any campaign donations from Musk, citing ethical concerns and a need to avoid the appearance of opportunism.

Meanwhile, Rep. Adam Schiff pointed to Musk’s past decisions — particularly his reinstatement of Trump on X — as evidence of erratic leadership. Schiff called the move “a terrible mistake,” emphasizing that Musk cannot play both sides and expect to be trusted.

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Despite Musk’s recent antagonism toward Trump, many Democrats remain skeptical of his motives. They view his sudden pivot as a strategic stunt rather than a genuine ideological shift — a calculated effort to rehabilitate his public image amid growing scrutiny.

For now, it seems the Democratic establishment is keeping Musk at arm’s length, unwilling to embrace a tech billionaire whose loyalties have proven fluid.