SAN FRANCISCO — A Cautionary Tale for Trump: Musk Never Truly Moves On
In an intriguing turn of events, Philip Low, a former close associate of Elon Musk, has issued a stern warning to President Donald Trump regarding the tech billionaire: Musk’s capacity for grudges is nothing short of legendary.
Low, a distinguished neuroscientist who once collaborated with the late cosmologist Stephen Hawking, learned firsthand about Musk’s enduring nature in 2021 when he dismissed the tech titan from the advisory board of his Silicon Valley startup. Their relationship, once characterized by camaraderie, has since evolved into a cautionary tale of obsession, revenge, and a relentless pursuit for dominance.
During an extensive interview, Low painted a psychological portrait of Musk, depicting him as someone who is power-hungry and perpetually on the hunt for competition. Despite knowing Musk for 14 years, Low asserts that the billionaire has not matured over time and likely never will.
Although the two maintained communication for years following Musk’s ousting, Low sensed a lingering resentment. This tension escalated dramatically in January when Low publicly accused Musk of making Nazi salutes at Trump’s inaugural rally, to which Musk dismissed the backlash as “sooo tired.”
“I’ve had my share of blowouts with Elon over the years,” Low remarked to POLITICO in a rare interview since the Musk-Trump feud ignited. “Knowing Elon, I believe he will do everything in his power to undermine the president.”
Musk did not respond to multiple requests for comment from POLITICO regarding this matter, nor did his companies—X, Tesla, or SpaceX. A spokesperson for his super PAC, America PAC, also declined to comment.
The public feud between Musk and Trump erupted earlier this month over a significant piece of legislation making its way through Congress. Their discord, marked by a series of threats and conspiracy-laced insults, reached a climax when Trump suggested he might terminate Musk’s government contracts.
In response, Musk took to his social media platform to criticize the president’s megabill, entertain support for a third party, accuse Trump of ingratitude, and even insinuate that records related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were withheld due to Trump’s involvement. (It’s worth noting that while Trump is mentioned in documents associated with Epstein, he hasn’t been accused of any wrongdoing.)
Currently, both parties claim that tensions have settled. The White House is eager to move past the drama, with Trump stating he will continue to support Starlink internet and wishing Musk well. Musk has since acknowledged that some of his posts were excessive and offered an apology a week later.
However, Low, who identifies as a political independent, cautions Trump and the American public not to be deceived. He posits that any reconciliation with Musk will be “purely cosmetic” and transactional.
“He has been humiliated,” Low stated regarding Musk. “The notion that Elon will support Trump in wooing Congress or investing in election campaigns for right-wing judges is misguided. Deep down, it’s over.”
Low has observed that Trump tends to reconcile with former adversaries like Steve Bannon more readily than Musk does, though the president is notorious for revisiting past grievances.
Their friendship blossomed in 2011 when they met at a social event in Paris, deepening over late-night conversations in Los Angeles, sharing personal struggles and attending each other’s gatherings. Musk invested in Low’s company, NeuroVigil, which focuses on non-invasive brain monitoring technology, and even joined its advisory board.
However, in 2021, Musk sought to disengage from the advisory board. Instead of accepting his resignation, Low decided to fire him, preventing Musk from exercising stock options that could have harmed NeuroVigil. “Let’s cut ties here,” Low wrote in an email to Musk, warning him, “Seriously, don’t mess with me.”
Despite their fallout, Musk has since emerged as one of the largest political donors in the country, contributing $288 million during the 2024 election cycle, solidifying his role in MAGA politics. While he initially planned to scale back political spending, his recent confrontations with Trump have raised questions about his allegiances.
Low predicts that Musk could seek revenge behind the scenes—“it’s not a question of if, but when”—a sentiment Trump himself has contemplated.
The president has warned of “serious consequences” if Musk supports Democratic candidates against Republicans backing his legislative agenda, which Musk has criticized as wasteful spending.
Yet, if anyone believed Musk would retreat from the political arena entirely, he promptly dispelled those notions by renewing his critiques of the megabill ahead of a crucial vote.
The Takedown
Unlike his former friend, Low tends to maintain a lower profile. Throughout the interview, the Canadian neuroscientist sported aviator sunglasses indoors. POLITICO’s initial outreach received an automated reply from a robot, suggesting that anyone wanting to connect must solve a math puzzle—a riddle that remains unsolved, much like many of Musk’s public antics.
Low typically shunned the limelight until he publicly dismantled his friendship with Musk earlier this year. One of his few public appearances was a 2013 event where he shared a stage with Musk, clad in an “Occupy Mars” shirt.
Now, Low sees little difference between the Musk he once knew and the one who instigated his breakup with Trump. “Many say he has changed, but I don’t believe that. He simply became more comfortable displaying his true self,” Low argued.
Upon hearing Musk faced backlash for his actions at Trump’s rally, Low confronted him privately with a message expressing his relief over their severed ties. He warned Musk to learn from the fate of Rodion Raskolnikov, the protagonist of Dostoevsky’s “Crime and Punishment,” who rationalizes immoral actions in pursuit of a misguided higher purpose.
When four days went by without a reply, Low severed contact and unleashed a nearly 2,000-word open letter critiquing Musk, which quickly gained traction on social media.
Dubbed a narcissist, Musk was depicted by Low as someone whose “lust for power” leads him to undermine any organization that might threaten his authority. Musk’s silence in response spoke volumes.
Low contended that Musk’s patterns of behavior place him in a realm of his own within Silicon Valley, where he has a history of tumultuous relationships with co-founders. This chaotic playbook followed him onto Trump’s team, where Low argues Musk made his most significant investment.
“Elon has a tendency to destabilize businesses. If he can’t take control, he creates a rival,” Low explained. “They were on a collision course, and Trump tried to gloss over it by encouraging Musk’s aggressiveness.”
Playing Defense
For now, Musk seems to be back in business mode. Earlier this month, he spoke at an AI boot camp hosted by Y Combinator, likening his governmental efforts to cleaning a beach while a tsunami looms. “You’re not going to focus on cleaning the beach,” Musk remarked about his departure from the commission.
His focus has since shifted to Tesla’s operations in Austin, Texas, where the company launched its long-awaited robotaxi service. Musk’s political entanglements have taken a toll on Tesla, which has faced consumer protests and declining sales, allowing SpaceX to surpass it as his most valuable asset.
Looking back, Low takes satisfaction in the protests that erupted following his open letter, viewing them as validation of his message: “The audience was the world, and it worked.”
While few Silicon Valley peers have dared to critique Musk publicly, Low mentioned receiving private support from several industry figures who agreed with his stance but feared for their own positions.
Low remains vigilant, ready with an “armada” of lawyers in case Musk retaliates. Thus far, no legal action has been taken.
Despite their severed ties, Low continues to monitor Musk’s activities. He noted that he had to catch up on the Trump feud but remarked on Musk’s recent posts, including one where he shared negative drug test results amid allegations of substance use during the campaign.
To Low, this indicates Musk is “playing defense,” particularly given recent calls for investigations into his alleged drug use. “It seems he is concerned about potential government contract cancellations,” Low speculated.
As for Trump, Low advises caution in managing a potentially resentful Musk: “Abide by the constitution,” he suggested, and perhaps consider some of Musk’s policy ideas.
Low has been particularly vocal against the administration’s immigration policies, warning that they could cripple America’s technological edge by driving talent away from Silicon Valley. Many hoped Musk’s influence would help alleviate barriers for skilled workers, a battle he once pledged to fight against MAGA Republicans.
Ultimately, Low believes Trump should heed these insights. “Elon has enough sway among Trump’s supporters to pose a legitimate political threat,” he warned, arguing that a moderation of Trump’s agenda may be essential to diminish Musk’s influence. “He doesn’t fully grasp the challenge he faces, and embracing Musk’s ideas could help him mitigate that threat.”
