In a spectacle proving that no beef is too petty for the titans of industry and politics, Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, and former Trump BFF, has publicly declared that Steve Bannon is “going back to prison. This time for a long time.”
This gem of an X post, delivered with all the subtlety of a SpaceX rocket launch and just as explosive, came hot on the heels of Bannon’s rather audacious suggestion that President Donald Trump should seize Musk’s prized aerospace company. Because, clearly, nothing says “free market” like a hostile government takeover.
Bannon and Musk’s war of words
So what does it all mean? Bannon, ever the provocateur, has been making the rounds on his “War Room” podcast, frothing about how Trump should invoke the Cold War-era Defense Production Act to nationalize SpaceX. His justification? SpaceX is too much of a monopoly, has gorged itself on “immense public support” and a hefty “$22 billion in direct federal monies,” and, most heinously, its CEO dared to “turn on President Trump.” Oh, the horror!
It’s almost as if Bannon believes that once a company takes a government dime, it’s fair game for a presidential power grab. As if that wasn’t enough, Bannon has also taken to calling Musk an “illegal alien” who should be “deported immediately,” despite Musk having been a naturalized U.S. citizen since 2002. One does wonder what “facts” Bannon has been “shown” to support these rather dramatic claims.
Oh, will they ever get along?
This latest spat is merely a fresh serving in the ongoing, exquisitely public feud between two of America’s most prominent figures: Trump and Musk. Their bromance, which once saw Musk briefly advising Trump’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), has curdled into a bitter rivalry. The catalyst? Trump’s brainchild, the “Big Beautiful Bill,” a legislative masterpiece designed to make 2017 tax cuts permanent, beef up border security, and slash federal spending on things like healthcare and nutrition programs.
Musk, who has a newfound affinity for fiscal conservatism, when his subsidies aren’t involved, has been vocal about his disdain for the bill. He’s even gone so far as to muse about forming a brand new “America Party” because, you know, the existing two-party system just isn’t delivering enough drama.
Trump, naturally, hasn’t taken kindly to Musk’s sudden fit of economic conscience. He’s retorted with barbs about Musk’s alleged reliance on “more subsidies than any human being in history” and playfully suggested that without this federal largesse, “Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa.”
The former President has also gleefully suggested turning Musk’s creation, DOGE, into a “monster that might have to go back and eat Elon,” suggesting a level of bureaucratic cannibalism that would make even Kafka blush.
The real rub for Musk might be the bill’s reported rollback of Biden-era green energy tax breaks, which Trump has hinted is the true source of the billionaire’s newfound outrage.
So, could Bannon go back to prison?
As for Bannon’s potential return to the clink, Musk’s snarky X post likely refers to Bannon’s past legal troubles. But who knows if Musk has some insider information.
What is known, however, is that Bannon was “jailed for defying a congressional subpoena related to the January 6 Capitol riot probe.” So, while there’s no immediate, new criminal charge tied directly to his current SpaceX fantasies, Musk’s pronouncement is a not-so-subtle reminder of Bannon’s existing rap sheet and a clear indication that Musk views him as a “criminal.”
Given Bannon’s history of pushing legal boundaries and his current inflammatory rhetoric, one can only imagine what new legal woes might be just around the corner.
In this ongoing saga of billionaires, politicians, and very public spats, one thing is clear: the theatrics are far from over. And we, the humble spectators, are here for every single snarky, subsidy-fueled, prison-threat-laden moment.
Published: Jul 1, 2025 02:57 pm