Is Elon Musk Afraid of Donald Trump?

One thing is off.

Elon Musk, the billionaire “technoking,” skilled loudmouth, and geopolitical hobbyist, has gone silent. Greater than 48 hours after the US bombed three Iranian nuclear websites — Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan — triggering fears of a wider struggle, the person who has a tackle the whole lot immediately has none.

This isn’t regular. It’s uncommon.

The context is explosive. Because the world awaits Iran’s response, President Donald Trump warned of extra strikes and brazenly mused about regime change. “If the present Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change???” he posted on Truth Social on June 22.

The world is teetering. The U.S. is getting ready to a brand new Center East struggle. And Musk, a person who virtually lives on X, the platform he owns, is posting about robotaxis in Austin, Texas, and congratulating Tesla engineers, however has not stated a single phrase in regards to the escalating Iran scenario.

No reposts. No memes. Nothing.

Nobody expects Musk to remain quiet. His model is world omnipresence. He has tweeted about immigration in Europe, publicly challenged the German authorities over environmental coverage, known as Brazil’s elected leaders an “oppressive regime,” and even tried to rebrand Europe’s far-right surge as MEGA — Make Europe Nice Once more.

Make Europe Nice Once more!

MEGA, MEGA, MEGA

pic.twitter.com/Mk5NJXxxeC

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 14, 2025

When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Musk initially supplied Starlink satellite tv for pc help. Then he flipped, accusing Ukraine of searching for a “eternally struggle.” His opinion whiplash is so routine that Musk watchers have discovered to count on it. Which is why his present silence, amid a doable U.S.-Iran struggle, feels virtually strategic.

They need the eternally struggle.

What number of extra dad and mom with no sons?

What number of extra youngsters with no fathers?

By their logic, it by no means ends. https://t.co/LplYYnfLnd

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 6, 2025

He has been energetic on X because the strikes. He simply hasn’t talked about them. As an alternative, he centered on launching Tesla’s robotaxi service in Austin, a serious second for the EV firm. However that is Elon Musk, the person who brags about multitasking throughout Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, xAI, and The Boring Firm whereas tweeting memes about obscure historic battles at 3 a.m. Time has by no means stopped him earlier than. His default setting is to intervene. His planetary ambitions, he appears to consider, require him to have an opinion on the whole lot.

So why the silence now?

The reply doubtless lies in a humiliating public feud from only a few weeks in the past. On June 5, Musk’s alliance with Trump spectacularly imploded in a confrontation and private insults. Musk accused Trump of getting ties to Jeffrey Epstein, a declare that rapidly went viral earlier than he deleted it. The fallout was so damaging that Musk did one thing he virtually by no means does: he bent the knee. After a brutal backlash from the MAGA base and a $150 billion drop in Tesla’s market worth, the tech mogul issued a public apology. “I remorse a few of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump final week,” he wrote. “They went too far.”

I remorse a few of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump final week. They went too far.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 11, 2025

That episode seems to have left a deep mark. As he as soon as posted in January, “I get issues completed and, whereas I’ve misplaced a couple of battles right here and there, I’ve by no means misplaced a struggle.” His feud with Trump seems to be just like the struggle he lastly misplaced.

I get issues completed and, whereas I’ve misplaced a couple of battles right here and there, I’ve by no means misplaced a struggle

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 9, 2025

His silence on Iran appears to substantiate it. Now Musk could also be calculating: Is it price moving into one other combat? Particularly one which pits his obvious non-interventionist instincts — he’s lengthy bashed eternally wars — towards Trump’s war-footing bravado?

Judging by Musk’s previous statements, he doubtless sides with the populist-nationalist wing of the GOP that wishes the U.S. to keep away from new overseas entanglements. His jabs at Ukraine’s management recommend he has little urge for food for prolonged battle. However publicly aligning with that camp, towards Trump, might set off one other expensive conflict. He might not wish to threat it. Not once more. Not proper now.

Musk’s silence won’t final. However for now, it’s loud. And revealing. The person who tries to colonize Mars, reinvent AI, tunnel below cities, and disrupt each business from protection to power to biotech is, for as soon as, strategically mute.

The stakes are excessive. If the U.S. escalates in Iran, Musk will finally communicate. However for now, it seems to be just like the richest man on Earth is enjoying it protected. Not for lack of opinions, however maybe for worry of one other costly battle.