A public breakup between US President Donald Trump and the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, has left some of their high-profile supporters in Silicon Valley scrambling to choose sides.
The Feud Begins
The feud began this week when Musk used his social media platform, X, to denounce Trump’s "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." Experts say the bill would:
- Cut taxes
- Reduce healthcare benefits for poor people
- Increase funding for immigration enforcement
- Add trillions to the federal deficit
Musk called the bill "a disgusting abomination" and claimed Congress is "making America bankrupt."
Trump responded by suggesting he might cancel contracts with Musk’s companies. During a press conference, he floated another potential consequence: that Musk was angry about part of the bill eliminating subsidies for electric vehicles that benefit Tesla. "They’re going after our cars," Trump said.
Pressure on Silicon Valley Investors
Some of Musk’s closest associates from Silicon Valley are now under pressure to decide whether to align themselves with their friend or continue supporting their former ally in Washington. Notable investors caught in the middle include:
- David Sacks
- Marc Andreessen
Support for Musk
Shaun Maguire, a partner at Sequoia Capital who donated $300,000 last year to Donald J. Trump 2024 Inc., praised Musk on Twitter, stating:
"’Elon leaves it all on the field,’ he tweeted yesterday morning; ‘he puts what he believes in ahead of himself.’ How can you not be inspired by that?"
Balancing Support for Both
Gerstner, founder and CEO at Altimeter Capital (which has invested heavily in Tesla), expressed support for both men but emphasized his views on budget reform during an interview at #TCDisrupt. He stated:
"’I’m a big fan of Elon…& I also believe & have fought 30 years over the fact we need some sort of balanced budget amendment in the country,’" as reported by Bloomberg.
Gerstner hopes the country will adopt a four- or five-year plan laid out by Trump’s administration but warned against living beyond its means through borrowing that will eventually come due.
Discussion on Budget Reform
In response to Gerstner’s comments about needing a balanced budget amendment, one attendee asked if such an amendment would require cuts like those proposed by House Republicans. Gerstner replied:
"I don’t think so."
He explained that any cuts should be based on priorities rather than just across-the-board reductions, stating:
"That’s not how you get there."
Gerstner also expressed skepticism about raising taxes as a solution, arguing that it could stifle economic growth:
"It’s hard enough getting people back out there working again."
I’m Mark W. Lamplugh Jr., a visionary Chief Executive Officer, Board Member, and best-selling Author with over 25 years of experience driving significant revenue growth and optimizing ROI across the healthcare, wellness, and media industries. Throughout my career, I’ve consistently transformed underperforming operations into thriving ventures by building top-tier marketing organizations, implementing data-driven strategies, and leading transformational change. My empathetic, collaborative, and adaptable leadership style has allowed me to cultivate inclusive cultures of innovation, develop and retain top talent, and forge strong partnerships that fuel organizational success.
Adept in executive leadership, strategic business planning, and brand and marketing strategy, I have a proven track record of boosting annual revenues—achieving up to $1.3B in oncology over three years and generating $360M in mental health initiatives. My approach combines strategic vision with hands-on execution, as evidenced by my success in launching innovative facilities, expanding services for addiction and mental health care, and enhancing organizational brand visibility. As author of “The AI Marketing Playbook,” I contribute thought leadership on the integration of artificial intelligence in marketing, a role that showcases my commitment to staying at the forefront of industry innovation.
I also bring my insights and expertise to a broad audience as the host of cable tv & global streaming of “Street Level Marketing Show,” while my writing has been featured in major publications such as Entrepreneur, Business.com, The Startup, and Kivo Daily. Whether I’m implementing targeted digital marketing campaigns that engage over a million individuals monthly or overseeing multi-million dollar budgets to maximize return on investment, I approach every challenge with a combination of strategic planning, creative problem-solving, and unwavering dedication. Above all, I am passionate about expanding access to high-quality addiction and mental health care through innovative solutions that drive both patient outcomes and organizational growth.
Mark serves on the board of One World for Life, National Fire Heritage Center, and the Institute for Responder Wellness.
Mark (https://marklamplugh.com) is one of the top marketing executives in the United States and has revolutionized how companies reach potential clients thru influence, SEO, social, PR, and traditional marketing. His expertise in Marketing, Social Media, Digital Marketing, and Public Relations has generated millions of dollars in revenue for several national companies. Mark documents many of his techniques in his book “Beginners Guide to Social & Digital Media.” and “Marketing Playbook for Social Media,” which was named the top 100 social media marketing books of all time by Book Authority. He’s also a professional advocate for the behavioral and mental health of firefighters and other first responders. Marks articles have been published in Better Marketing, Startup Magazine, Social Media Today, Kivo Daily, Biz Catalyst 360, Fire Engineering, Firehouse Magazine, and several others.
One of his companies, niches, are marketing products and services to the public safety industry and their employees, specifically mental & behavioral health services. He can be reached for comment at ceo@influencemediasolutions.com
23,000 #1 Connections, 40,000,000 US B2B Contacts and 300,000,000 B2b/B2C email contacts as well as 1,000,000+ monthly social media reach. https://marklamplugh.com
