Chris Christie Predicts the End of Elon Musk’s Influence Over Trump

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R) speculated in a Sunday interview that tech billionaire Elon Musk’s influence over President-elect Donald Trump would not last indefinitely.

Speaking on ABC’s “This Week,” Christie suggested that Trump’s tendency to assign blame when things go wrong could eventually lead to a fallout between the two.

“When does this end?” ABC’s Jonathan Karl asked Christie about Musk’s sway over Trump. Christie replied, “It ends when Trump believes that something has gone wrong, and he needs someone to blame. Musk becomes the person to blame. And no one knows how long that will take.”

Musk has been a vocal supporter of Trump throughout his presidential campaign. In July, following an assassination attempt against Trump, Musk endorsed him and became a prominent figure in his bid for the White House.

Musk not only attended rallies but also founded America PAC, a pro-Trump super PAC, contributing $118 million to the committee. His active involvement and financial backing have positioned him as a significant ally to Trump.

However, Christie pointed out that Trump’s closest allies often face a limited “shelf life.” He likened Musk’s influence to that of House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who recently found himself at odds with Trump and some of his allies.

Earlier this week, Trump criticized a government funding deal negotiated by Johnson, even as the Friday deadline to avoid a government shutdown loomed. Musk, for his part, supported Trump’s stance, taking to his platform X to denounce the spending bill.

“Any member of the House or Senate who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in 2 years!” Musk declared on X. While Musk’s criticism aligned with Trump’s, Christie suggested that Musk’s role as a supporter could still wane over time.

During his interview, Christie downplayed Musk’s broader influence, emphasizing that the tech billionaire does not command the same level of grassroots loyalty as Trump. “Musk doesn’t stand in front of 20,000 people and have them chant his name, no matter how rich he is, which is what was happening to him on the campaign trail,” Christie remarked.

Christie also noted the intoxicating nature of political influence and public adoration. “Sometimes it’s hard for folks to understand how intoxicating this can be for some people,” he said, suggesting that the dynamic between Trump and his supporters is fundamentally different from Musk’s business-driven approach.

As Trump’s administration begins to take shape, questions about the durability of Musk’s influence remain.

While his financial contributions and public endorsements have been pivotal, Christie’s remarks highlight the volatile nature of Trump’s relationships with his allies.