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Where Trump-Musk bromance goes from here, with Semafor’s Ben Smith
It was an extraordinary public fight between two billionaires—President Donald Trump, the world’s most powerful man, and Elon Musk, the world’s richest. On a special bonus episode of the GZERO World Podcast, Ian Bremmer sits down with Semafor co-founder and editor-in-chief Ben Smith to talk about Trump and Musk’s messy breakup, what led to the explosive public fallout, and whether there’s any chance of reconciliation.
Though their feud appears to be cooling down, there’s still a lot at stake for both men: namely, Musk’s political funding for the GOP ahead of the 2026 midterms and billions in government contracts and subsidies for his companies, which Trump has threatened to cancel. In the battle between politicians and tech oligarchs, who holds more power? Will President Trump’s ability to punish his enemies in consequential ways have long-term consequences for Musk? And how does a fight like this change the nature of political journalism when everything is happening in real time in full view of the public? Smith and Bremmer break down the end of the bromance that has defined President Trump’s second term and where the administration’s relationship with Silicon Valley goes from here.
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What’s behind Trump & Musk’s public feud?
Elon Musk and President Donald’s Trump’s White House bromance imploded in spectacular fashion last week in a feud that played out in full view of the public, with the two billionaires trading insults in real-time on social media. That fight appears to be cooling down, at least for now, but President Trump has made it clear he has no intention of mending the relationship any time soon. On a special edition of GZERO World, Semafor Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief Ben Smith joins Ian Bremmer to discuss what led to the breakup and where the Trump administration’s relationship with Silicon Valley goes from here.
There’s a lot at stake: for Trump, Musk’s political funding ahead of the 2026 midterms; for Musk, billions in government contracts and subsidies for his companies. Smith and Bremmer discuss Trump and Musk’s alliance of convenience, where it all broke down, the role of political journalism in covering such a public conflict, and who ultimately has the upper hand in the battle between political leaders and tech oligarchs.
“[President] Trump's power to reward his friends and punish his enemies in the very short term, in very consequential and permanent ways is totally unprecedented,” Smith says, “Business leaders, civil society and the media can be intimidated and Trump knows it. He usually wins that game of chicken.”
GZERO World with Ian Bremmer, the award-winning weekly global affairs series, airs nationwide on US public television stations (check local listings).
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Ben Smith: Role of Media in Pandemic Coverage
Ian Bremmer explores the media's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, and President Trump's treatment of journalists. With guest Ben Smith, media columnist at The New York Times and former head of Buzzfeed News, we explore global coverage of COVID-19, including misinformation campaigns and social media's role in society today.
Ben Smith: Social Media & Responsible Coronavirus Coverage
NY Times Media Columnist and former head of Buzzfeed News, Ben Smith, speaks with Ian Bremmer over Zoom, and rates the job social media companies are doing in the battle against coronavirus-related disinformation.
While not perfect, Ben Smith argues Facebook, Twitter, and others are making strides at eliminating misleading or harmful health-related postings, even from world leaders like Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro. The social media companies' confidence in truth vs. falsity, aided by the clarity of guidance they've gotten from the World Health Organization, stands above these same companies' hand-wringing on allowing hateful or otherwise controversial political statements on their platforms.
Covering a Pandemic: COVID-19 and the Media
In this week's episode, Ian Bremmer explores the media's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, and President Trump's treatment of journalists. With guest Ben Smith, media columnist at The New York Times and former head of Buzzfeed News, the show looks at global coverage of COVID-19, including misinformation campaigns and social media's role in society today. Later in the program, meet Danny Rogers of The Global Disinformation Index. His group is working hard to find harmful or misleading information online and alert major publishers and tech platforms.
Podcast: Covering a Pandemic: COVID-19 and the News Media
Listen: In this week's episode, Ian Bremmer explores the media's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, and President Trump's treatment of journalists. With guest Ben Smith, media columnist at The New York Times and former head of Buzzfeed News, the show looks at global coverage of COVID-19, including misinformation campaigns and social media's role in society today. Later in the program, meet Danny Rogers of The Global Disinformation Index. His group is working hard to find harmful or misleading information online and alert major publishers and tech platforms.