Elon Musk and Donald Trump's feud 'ego-led behavior that undermines trust'

The feud between Elon Musk and President Donald Trump has been characterized by experts as a display of selfishness and ego-driven behavior. The public dispute has escalated with Musk alleging that Trump is mentioned in the Jeffrey Epstein files and Trump labeling his one-time ally as, "A man who has lost his mind."

After resigning from his position within Trump's administration and as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) at the end of last month, Musk has launched a series of criticisms against Trump. He has taken to his platform X to voice his disapproval, covering topics ranging from politics to personal matters.

With the verbal battle ongoing post-Musk's departure, specialists are cautioning that their quarrel could result in "collateral damage" for the broader United States.

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Leadership and presentation expert Caroline Goyder weighed in, stating: "The best leaders are in service of the common purpose. They are servant leaders who are thinking about good of the nation and the people they serve."

She added, "And those kind of leaders keep personal feuds in private spaces because they realize that putting personal feuds in public spaces makes people whose lives you are responsible for in stock market terms and legal terms and political terms feel very, very uncertain."

She continued: "It's only people who don't have a sense of their role as public servants - and the clue's in the name - who think it's okay to have a private feud in public. There's no sense of empathy for the collateral damage that this is going to be causing in the stock market, in people's confidence and beyond.

"It really betrays a deep lack of servant leadership, and it shows up both men as selfish and totally unaware or uncaring about the impacts they have. Whether it's on Musk's investors or the population who voted for Trump, they don't really care, and that is very telling."

The rift between Elon Musk and Donald Trump, at one time close friends, appears to be growing with no signs of reconciliation. Trump has made it clear in recent conversations that he has no plans to mend the relationship, reports the Irish Star.

Good Morning America host and political journalist Jonathan Karl reported that after speaking with the U.S. President in a phone call, Trump indicated he has dismissed any prospects of restoring his friendship and working relationship with Musk and is "not particularly interested" in speaking with him again.

Leadership expert Caroline Hughes pointed out that ego is driving the dispute between the two prominent figures. She stated: "This public clash between Elon Musk and Donald Trump reveals more about the current void in reflective leadership than it does about either individual."

She stated: "At a time when leaders should be modelling integrity and long-term thinking, what we're witnessing instead is reactive, ego-led behavior that undermines trust.

"True leadership requires the courage to pause, reflect, and ask: 'What impact am I having on the wider system?' Integrity isn't about winning the moment, it's about staying anchored to the values you claim to lead by. Without self-reflection, influence becomes performance, not leadership."