Elon Musk’s recent online dispute with President Donald Trump could potentially threaten Starlink’s global expansion, which has seen significant growth under the current istration. The satellite broadband company currently operates in 130 countries, with many nations granting approvals partly due to White House . 29131l

The company’s rapid expansion has been notably aided by the State Department’s diplomatic efforts, with countries like Vietnam, Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Africa recently easing regulations or granting licenses. India became the latest nation to approve Starlink’s operations just last Friday.

“When trade officials or when governments sit down for negotiations, you think about what horses you have to trade,” said a former Starlink executive, as reported by Politico. “I don’t even know if Starlink is a horse anymore,” they added, highlighting concerns about the company’s future negotiating power.

State Department’s unusual approach to ing Starlink raises questions 3f3g1j

The State Department’s for Starlink has gone beyond conventional diplomatic assistance. According to telecommunications expert Blair Levin, the department has unusually incorporated White House tariff policy into discussions, creating potential complications as Musk’s relationship with the istration deteriorates. This was evident in Lesotho’s case, where the African nation granted Starlink a license while seeking relief from 50 percent tariffs imposed by Trump.

Satellite policy expert Ruth Pritchard-Kelly suggests that if Musk remains at odds with Trump, it could make Starlink a liability for countries seeking good relations with the United States. The situation could lead to various obstacles for the company, including slower approvals and reduced consideration in federal policy discussions.

The conflict might also accelerate other countries’ efforts to develop their own satellite systems. European Parliament lawmakers have already requested 60 billion euros for space initiatives, including the EU’s IRIS2 satellite communications network. However, analyst Tim Farrar notes that it would take years for rival services to match Starlink’s current constellation of over 7,000 satellites.

Despite these challenges, Starlink remains the dominant player in satellite internet services with its constellation of over 7,000 satellites, though industry analysts note that maintaining this position will require navigating increasingly complex political dynamics both domestically and internationally. The State Department maintains its position of promoting U.S. satellite interests over Chinese competitors, with a spokesperson stating that “any patriotic American should want to see an American company’s success on the global stage, especially over compromised Chinese competitors.”

President Trump’s proposed healthcare bill has created a significant divide within the Republican Party, particularly concerning its Medicaid provisions. The bill, dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill,” would potentially reduce Medicaid spending and affect millions of Americans currently enrolled in the program.

According to Politico, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that approximately 7.8 million people could lose access to the low-income health insurance program under the proposed legislation. This has caused concern among both moderate and progressive Democrats, who have begun using this issue in their campaign messaging.

Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has emerged as a vocal critic within his own party, stating that cutting the program would be “both morally wrong and politically suicidal.” Hawley later revealed that Trump had personally assured him there would be no cuts to benefits, highlighting the growing tension within the GOP over the proposed changes.

How Medicaid’s political landscape has shifted 2k6v19

The politics of Medicaid have undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years. Republican voters in red states have increasingly ed the program, with several states expanding Medicaid through ballot initiatives between 2017 and 2020. Enrollment in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program has grown significantly, rising from approximately 70 million in 2014 to nearly 79 million by the end of 2024.

The GOP’s messaging around the bill has notably shifted from previous years when they openly advocated for Medicaid cuts. Now, Republican lawmakers are carefully framing the legislation as a measure to protect Medicaid by removing ineligible recipients rather than implementing direct cuts. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that the istration aims to preserve Medicaid for its intended recipients while implementing work requirements for able-bodied Americans.

Recent polling from the Kaiser Family Foundation reveals the complexity of the issue within the Republican base. While 42 percent of Republicans believe the Trump istration’s policies would strengthen Medicaid, Republican Medicaid enrollees are more divided, with 35 percent believing Trump would strengthen the program and 34 percent saying he would weaken it.

Democrats see this division as an opportunity to win back working-class voters who have shifted toward the GOP. They are already targeting swing-district Republicans with advertising campaigns focusing on Medicaid cuts. The proposed work requirements would not take effect until the end of 2026, but Democrats are leveraging their traditional advantage on healthcare issues to challenge the Republican position. Democratic pollster Zac McCrary notes that healthcare remains one of the few areas where Democrats maintain an edge in public opinion, making the Medicaid debate particularly significant for future electoral strategies.

President Donald Trump bowed to pressure from a stock market slump that wiped out $1.1 trillion in a day, rolling back significant tariffs.

Trump had initially imposed 25% tariffs on all goods from Canada and Mexico. That policy is still displayed proudly on the White House fact-check page. At first, he assured his base and the nation that tariffs were the only way to stop fentanyl from entering the U.S. Changing course after accessing new information is not unusual for a president. However, Trump insists every new direction was always his original plan. So, it’s crucial to always capture the full picture using his own words.

The impending tariffs sparked backlash and led to a war of words with Canada. Trump dismissed the criticism as Prime Minister Trudeau’s desperate attempt to cling to power. He vowed to continue with tariffs until the U.S.’s neighbors found a way to stop fentanyl from crossing their borders. Yet, it only took a day for Trump to reverse course. Experts point to the stock market as the key reason behind his sudden U-turn.

When CNBC asked if the market slump influenced his decision, Trump vehemently denied it. He claimed he doesn’t even watch the market. Instead, he blamed faceless saboteurs, saying, “I think it’s globalists that see how rich our country’s going to be and they don’t like it. Big market out there. But again, they’ve been ripping off this country for years. And they’re going to do great — everyone’s going to do great. But we can’t let this continue to happen to America. Otherwise we’re not going to have a country any longer.” 

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick echoed this sentiment, stating that a 1% market swing is not a “driving force of our outcomes.” This contradicts Trump’s campaign rhetoric, where he often warned that markets would never tolerate “the radical lunatic left.” He even declared that playing games with markets was unacceptable.

According to the BBC, a White House official confirmed that 50% of Mexican imports and an additional 62% from Canada may still face tariffs. Whether the istration follows through remains unclear. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded diplomatically this time, thanking Trump and noting his promise to curb gun trafficking in the other direction. PM Trudeau was more defiant, warning that a trade war remains likely.

Canada may be preparing to go on the offensive if this trade war continues. Ontario’s Premier told CNN he still plans to impose a 25% tariff on the electricity supplied to over 1.5 million homes in New York, Michigan, and Minnesota. As a result, households in these states will likely see higher-than-usual electricity bills in the near future. This could push Trump to roll back even more of the remaining tariffs. And that’s not to mention the U.S. imports large amounts of food from Mexico, which could also be affected.

Trump’s istration now urges Americans to brace for short-term price hikes, asking for patience as he restores U.S. respectability on the global stage. His strategy relies on the belief that his showmanship will intimidate others into compliance. That clearly isn’t working in trade, and with China, it may fail under even more drastic stakes.

President Donald Trump has been playing fast and loose with foreign policy in his second term, turning historic allies into foes. After first threatening Canada with tariffs, then walking it back, Trump changed course again on Mar. 3rd and announced he would proceed.

Trump also included Mexico and China in his tariff plan, imposing 25% and 10% tariffs, respectively. Regarding Mexico and Canada, Trump justified his decision by claiming illegal immigration from both countries had led to a surge in fentanyl trafficking into the U.S. Outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, however, asserted that only 1% of the fentanyl in the US comes through the Canadian border. Yet Trump, as of now, remains adamant about moving forward with his tariffs.

There was, however, one exception in Trump’s tariffs against Canada — energy products were not included. According to Newsweek, Canadian leadership was far from pleased with Trump’s latest move. Prime Minister Trudeau was first to call Trump’s strategy for tackling the fentanyl crisis through tariffs “a very dumb thing to do.” As of 2019, the US relied on Canada for 59% of its energy imports. If Trump ignited a trade war, it seemed logical that Canada might weaponize that fact.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s stance aligned with that thinking. At a press conference, he declared, “I don’t start a tariff war, but we’re going to win this tariff war.” Ford then laid out his plan to push back, stating, “If they want to try to annihilate Ontario, I will do everything — including cut off their energy with a smile on my face, and I’m encouraging every other province to do the same. They rely on our energy. They need to feel the pain.”

This followed two months of Trump disrespecting America’s closest ally by claiming Canada should be the 51st state. Anti-American sentiment in Canada has since spread like wildfire. Social media videos show Canadians booing the U.S. national anthem. In stores, attendants have been seen removing American products from shelves. Reports claim Ontario alone has pulled $1 billion worth of American alcohol from shelves.

Trump’s leadership style has always been unorthodox. Even his closest allies it they can never quite predict his next move or why he makes it. For decades, Trump has self-mythologized as a tough negotiator, but history also proves his strategies don’t always yield positive results. Right now, it remains to be seen who will back down first. Because if both leaders stick to their guns, one thing is certain — increased energy prices for businesses and homes across America.

Trump shocked the world last week with a very public spat with the Ukrainian President in the Oval Office. So while this latest tariff war may seem like just another day in his presidency, world leaders are increasingly concerned about whether a harmonious relationship with Trump is even possible. 

Consequently, Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly has stated that Canada is also ready with its own 25% tariffs on goods worth $155 billion. We’re still waiting on word from this istration on how exactly this debacle will solve the fentanyl crisis. As of now, it simply seems like Trump is only leading the country into global isolation.

British legendary actor Sir Michael Caine, now 91, was all of us during that now-infamous Trump-Zelensky confrontation as he simply pleaded with President Donald Trump to calm down.

Best known for his poise and class, Caine often posts about his career and loved ones. However, when things get too volatile, he doesn’t shy away from using his position as an elder statesman to remind people to keep their heads. During the Oct. 2024 race riots in the U.K., he took to X with a simple plea: calm down. He probably saw the Oval Office shouting match and thought this was just as bad.

Trump calm down

— Michael Caine (@themichaelcaine) February 28, 2025

It’s difficult to fully trace how the world leaders reached that moment. Russia-Ukraine tensions have been acrimonious for over a decade, with the USA and EU backing Ukraine against Russia. However, once Trump launched his third consecutive campaign and VP J.D. Vance publicly dismissed Ukraine’s pleas for help as propaganda, it became clear the status quo had changed.

Vance has never been one to back his positions with facts, which tends to get under the skin of fellow world leaders. When he began his usual obfuscation, President Zelensky understandably took umbrage. Folding his arms and interrupting Trump, he soon found himself in a full-blown argument — the kind we have simply never seen in the Oval Office.

At some point, the interaction resembled two schoolyard bullies picking on another kid. Even the press, invited into the Oval Office, ed in. One reporter asked Zelensky why he wasn’t wearing a suit. The issue of which press outlets gain access to the White House has already been a topic of debate. CNN recently reported that while publications like Reuters have been barred, Russian state media was granted entry for the Trump-Zelensky sit-down. Watching that public dress-down in the presence of Russian state media truly makes one wonder — who was it supposed to impress? The MAGA crowd? Vladimir Putin? Both?

The suit fiasco itself was absurd. Zelensky has repeatedly stated that dres in a suit during wartime is inappropriate in his country. Yet, Vance smirked as the press questioned Zelensky’s outfit. Coming from a working-class background, Vance, of all people, should oppose judging someone for their clothes instead of their substance.

Michael Caine followed up with two more posts. One again urged for tensions to cool, and the other reminded everyone that the goal was simply to sign a binding ceasefire.

Calm down

— Michael Caine (@themichaelcaine) February 28, 2025

You're only suppose to sign a cease fire

— Michael Caine (@themichaelcaine) February 28, 2025

One of Vance’s main accusations against Zelensky was that he was ungrateful. Despite the humiliating ordeal, Zelensky swallowed his pride and thanked the U.S. again — this time from his X profile. So at least he has clearly calmed down, probably because he knows he can’t expect sanity from those present with him in the room during the meeting.

We are very grateful to the United States for all the . I’m thankful to President Trump, Congress for their bipartisan , and American people. Ukrainians have always appreciated this , especially during these three years of full-scale invasion. pic.twitter.com/Z9FlWjF101

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 1, 2025

Caine’s words seemed to resonate with many s who praised his message as excellent.

excellent. no notes. https://t.co/IIxF8JCX8S

— Ben Blissett (@tldrben) February 28, 2025

The most cynical moment came when Trump turned to one of the cameras and said, “That was good TV.”

If Sir Michael Caine is a credible source on good TV — and he is — it certainly wasn’t. That was terrifying. We all just want the war to stop. Enough lives have been lost. We can get “good TV” elsewhere. It can not be at the cost of more deaths and lives cruelly uprooted.

James Cameron is finalizing his move to New Zealand. As he spends his last days before an inevitable invite to the mayor’s office to be declared a Kiwi, he’s grateful for one thing in particular — he will no longer have to see President Trump’s face plastered across newspaper front pages.

During this awards season, when Timothée Chalamet unexpectedly won the SAG Award for Best Actor, Chalamet took to the stage and made a sincere speech about his desire to be great. Fans declared that moment as the official end of the “nonchalance era.” But for someone like Cameron — who has shattered box office records time and time again — that era never even began.

Cameron has never held his tongue. Even when he accepted his Oscar for Titanic, and people expected a classy, grateful speech, he did what he wanted. He stretched out his arms and yelled, “I’m the king of the world!” So in an era where many hesitate to criticize Trump’s second term, it’s no surprise that Cameron broke the mold again. He told the New Zealand publication Stuff, “I don’t want to see that guy’s face anymore on the front page of the papers every single day.”

Cameron considers this istration utterly horrific. “America doesn’t stand for anything if it doesn’t stand for what it has historically stood for. It becomes a hollow idea,” he explained. He went on to suggest that these policies only serve President Trump and his inner circle. Presumably referring to Elon Musk and the technocrats around him.

In the interview, Cameron also shared that he has spent years working to secure New Zealand citizenship. He moved there with his family in the early days of the long-gestating Avatar franchise. Cameron apparently chose to stay because, unlike anywhere else he has lived, New Zealand offers a true sense of equality. He urged the local government to continue ing the country’s talented craftspeople in film. He added that the kind of society and values in which he wanted to raise his children ultimately shaped his decision to stay.

This news comes at an ironic moment, as President Trump has just announced a plan a to sell U.S. citizenship in exchange for what he calls a “gold card”. He claims as many as 10 million people might take him up on the offer. But while some may be rushing toward him, it turns out others — especially millionaires — are running in the opposite direction. Trump appears to believe that everyone is willing to throw morals aside for the chance to make an extra dollar. In reality, some people would prefer a leader who inspires the best in them.

As for Cameron’s fans, since he has committed two decades of his career to the Avatar franchise, you’ll be glad to hear there won’t be any delays this time. Avatar 3 is still set to release on Dec. 19, 2025. Cameron promises it will be the most emotionally resonant and satisfying installment yet. For a franchise that always manages to wrestle its way into the zeitgeist — sparking wildly different reactions while still attracting awards consideration — that’s an exciting claim in itself.

The Department of Education has sent a threatening letter to the heads of its 4,000 employees nationwide. The message is clear: If any school in the country “considers race” in its operations, it will lose access to federal funding.

President Donald Trump has been finalizing his sweeping plan to dismantle the Education Department and transfer its authority back to the states, but until then, it seems his istration will delay those autonomy proposals to ensure DEI is eradicated first. The stated goal with that move is to apparently end the indoctrination of children in kindergarten.

Deep into his 2024 election campaign in July, Trump first mentioned his plan to impose fines on any school incorporating aspects of “critical race theory” or “gender ideology” in its curriculum. He not only promised to cut funding for such institutions but also claimed that the Department of Education had been infiltrated by “radicals.” So, it’s no surprise that, according to CNN, the agency now plans to strip funding from any institution that considers race “in decisions pertaining to issions, hiring, promotion, compensation, financial aid, scholarships, prizes, istrative , discipline, housing, graduation ceremonies, and all other aspects of student, academic, and campus life,” according to Craig Trainor, the acting secretary of civil rights in the Department of Education. CNN correctly points out that these stringent rules could impact Black fraternities and sororities.

In the letter, Trainor also argued that DEI policies favor certain races and burden specific students with moral responsibilities. Educators, however, are not taking these accusations lightly. The American Federation of Teachers is already pushing back, releasing a memo stating that presidents cannot arbitrarily dictate what is taught in schools and colleges.

The letter gave schools and colleges two weeks to fully implement the policy. The Department of Education is justifying its stance by citing Students for Fair issions v. Harvard, the landmark Supreme Court case that severely weakened affirmative action. According to Politico, Trainor declared that the istration’s broad interpretation of the ruling now deems it illegal to treat students differently in pursuit of what it calls “nebulous” goals like racial equality.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has already sent nearly 100 Department of Education employees working in roles related to diversity in learning institutions on indefinite leave. If Trump succeeds in dismantling the department altogether, DOGE will undoubtedly be involved. Elon Musk has been uncharacteristically silent on this move — though, somewhat unsurprisingly, he seems to only target agencies that have investigated him. The Trump istration did, however, confirm that if ever a conflict of interest arises, Elon Musk would recuse himself.

The notion that there can be “too much” historical context on humanity’s complicated past is difficult to defend — especially in a month when Kanye West has been stoking dangerous sentiments among his young, impressionable audience. But educators have refused to back down, making it highly likely the Trump istration’s policies will face legal challenges. Sowing division has long been a hallmark of Trump’s leadership, and, sadly, despite these moves teetering on the edge of racial insensitivity at best, they are gradually becoming the norm.

As time es and journalists dig deeper into the events that led Trump to his victory at the polls, we’re getting a clearer picture of how we ended up here. One of the biggest mysteries surrounding Trump’s entire appeal was how he convinced Joe Rogan to endorse him. Well, now we finally have the answer.

President Trump’s second term is even more unhinged than anyone expected. During the campaign trail, political commentators suggested that this version of Trump was more measured and subdued. But after a fortnight of deranged executive orders and unofficial declarations about taking over sovereign states, it’s clear we’re right back where we left off. At times like this, it’s always better to examine how we got here in the first place. A lot has already been said about Trump’s increasingly worrying ties to tech titan billionaires, but not enough is being discussed about his reach within the manosphere — the “bro” in the “broligarchy,” so to speak.

On the eve of the elections, superstar podcaster Joe Rogan took to X and did something unprecedented — endorsing a major Republican candidate for president. It’s easy to forget now, but over the years, Rogan has backed liberal candidates such as Bernie Sanders and made it clear to his audience that he neither believes in celebrity political endorsements nor wants politics to dominate his show. But clearly, when Elon Musk mentioned a “vibe shift” in the makeup of your typical Republican er, Rogan was partly who he meant. The irony of the MAGA bros now embracing celebrity culture within their camp is also worth noting — it seems their only problem was FOMO.

The manosphere has existed in society for decades, evolving from a pushback against feminism in the ’70s to a modern outlet for podcasters to vent frustrations about society’s supposed disregard for men. Joe Rogan has long been one of the more mainstream leaders of these internet subcultures. So given his rhetoric, it was no surprise when President Trump did a slew of appearances on irreverent, bro-heavy podcasts such as Adin Ross, Barstool, Andrew Schulz, and, of course, Joe Rogan himself.

These stops were undoubtedly effective and ultimately one of the main reasons Trump managed to reach a younger voter base. In retrospect, these moves were so calculated that everyone wanted to know who orchestrated them. While Trump initially credited his son Barron, a recent Forbes report revealed that controversial UFC CEO Dana White was the mastermind. White, proud of his political connections, flaunted texts he’d received from the president and even claimed that without him, Trump wouldn’t have won. In the interview, White said:

“If we took all of that out — the walkouts at the UFC, all the stuff he did with influencers, and he’s only got Fox for the last however many years — there’s no way we win this election.”

White also clarified that although he personally leans left, he considers himself and his cohort of manosphere content creators fiercely loyal to each other. They move as a pack. When the rest of the team fell in line, it was up to Rogan — regarded as their loudest voice — to deliver the final blow.

On the penultimate day of the election, White shared that he was on a plane to Mar-a-Lago, texting Rogan and urging him to make the endorsement: “You have to endorse him,” White reportedly pressed. “Who are you voting for, Joe">

So there you have it, folks. While they were touting themselves as an independent alternative to mainstream media, they were simply taking orders from a different guard. Ultimately, these are people banding together to boost their profiles, regardless of consequences and their own stated principles.

It’s barely been two weeks into the second Trump presidency, and even though there’s already talk of annexing foreign states and overstepping constitutional rights, one thing remains most worrisome — the influence of Elon Musk. Fittingly, Tim Walz has taken to the Musk-owned social media platform X to call Musk out on his antics.

On literally the first day President Trump returned to office for his final term — that couldn’t end soon enough, honestly — Elon Musk was already doing salutes that looked suspiciously like Nazi gestures. Somehow, he convinced people to disregard their own eyes and believe him instead. It was all downhill from there. Musk made it clear his main goal was to settle personal scores rather than use his immense power for anything substantial, as Jesse Eisenberg once suggested tech titans should.

Musk’s next major move was using his DOGE department as a tool to flaunt his power. Normally, his political expertise is limited to agreeing with random right-wing conspiracy theories that lack evidence and vowing to overhaul actual, essential government agencies to address those fantasies. Such was the case when Michael Flynn claimed without evidence that a faith-based charity providing legal advice to migrants with government grants was a money-laundering scheme. Musk vowed to fix the situation on X and accused government officials of approving fraudulent payments. According to Wired, that’s when Musk reportedly gained full istrative access to the U.S. Treasury’s critical payment system.

Musk’s meddling didn’t stop there. His next target was USAID. According to his increasingly deranged posts on X, USAID is a criminal organization that needs to “die.” After a string of threatening posts about the vital humanitarian agency, Musk followed through, shutting it down and alleging that it was pushing “anti-American” causes that were too left-leaning for his tastes.

Former USAID Samantha Power stopped by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to set the record straight. She explained the agency’s crucial role in providing aid that not only benefits non-U.S. citizens but also helps U.S. citizens by improving the nation’s reputation and preventing the spread of diseases like bird flu and Ebola. Unfortunately, Power noted that this development benefits China and Russia, who will now likely fill the void left by the U.S. in the Global South — and it’s anyone’s guess what they plan to do with that increased influence.

Tim Walz spoke for everyone when he said (official or unofficial) President Musk is terrible. There’s really nothing to add to that.

The man needs to be stopped. Fortunately, federal employee unions like the American Federation of Government Employees have already filed lawsuits against the Treasury for granting Musk’s DOGE unlawful access to sensitive data. Additionally, dissolving USAID requires Congressional approval, and some of Congress are already sounding the alarm about the dangerous precedent of a non-elected individual dismantling a government agency unilaterally.

Elon Musk is undisciplined and clearly believes he’s unstoppable. His closeness to President Trump underscores the need for everyone to stay vigilant and challenge every reckless decision they attempt before it fully spirals out of control.

Someone is getting played — whether it’s the fans, artists, or President Trump himself. It remains to be seen. But one thing is for sure: someone is being disingenuous. As the list of performers for Trump’s inauguration slowly emerges, the musicians who’ve confirmed their attendance have been met with confusion and disappointment. But no one expected that Snoop Dogg, of all people, would also make the list.

Snoop spent much of Trump’s first term critiquing not just Trump’s often racist and xenophobic rhetoric but also his ers. Back then, Snoop didn’t mince words when expressing his disdain for President Trump. USA Today reported on a visit he made to Sirius XM studios, where he called Trump a racist and declared that even when the always controversial Kanye West ed him, Snoop Dogg would also turn his back on him. Snoop didn’t stop there. He released an album and a now-deleted video for his song Lavender (Nightfall Remix), where he shoots a clown meant to mock the president, prompting an actual response from Trump’s active Twitter at the time.

So it’s no surprise that fans were stunned when Snoop not only walked back his previous comments but also became a key performer at the Crypto Ball pre-inauguration party, entertaining major Trump donors from the cryptocurrency community. One highlighted the stark contrast between Snoop’s past and present stances, and Elon Musk, never one to miss a post on X, commented, calling it a major “vibe shift.”

There are several reasons why people might be cosplaying as Trump ers. In the 2020 election, Trump pardoned rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black in exchange for their in a demographic he had completely lost at the time. There’s also speculation that Snoop is performing for Trump because of the latter’s pardon of his former business partner, Michael “Harry-O” Harrison, from the prime days of Death Row Records in the 1990s.

Many s on X were quick to point out the likely reasons behind Trump and Snoop’s reunion, some commenting under Musk’s post, claiming it’s a matter of self-preservation.

Another described it as just the latest example of someone succumbing to whatever power train is currently in motion, no matter where it leads. 

A more cynical commenter speculated that Trump might have bribed Snoop.

These are answers we’ll only get when both parties have nothing left to gain or lose from this clear marriage of convenience. It’s worth ing that just days before the election, Trump made his now-definitive appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, where he mentioned that some people behind the scenes told him they only pretended to hate him to further their careers. He never specified who he was talking about, but it now seems that Snoop might be likely one of the candidates. But if people around him can pretend to hate him, then they can certainly pretend to like him too. For Elon Musk and his cohorts, however, it’s clear that all they care about is perception. This apparent “vibe shift” will be enough for them.

One of the main fears regarding TikTok’s growing influence in the United States was not that the controlling entity behind the social media company, ByteDance, was already feeding data to Chinese President Xi Jinping, but rather that they’re beholden to him and could theoretically decide one day to hand over the private data of millions of Americans to the Chinese government.

But, despite incoming President Trump being the one who proposed the ban in the first place, he’s now changed his stance, shifting from TikTok’s number-one critic to the man who’s just resurrected it.

TikTok is more than just a plaything for powerful, often untrustworthy men. For countless Americans, its razor-sharp algorithm has fostered communities, grown businesses, and provided an informative and educational platform where people connect with the real lives of peers across the nation. Yet, for Trump, the app has always existed in binary : does it say good things about him, or does it say bad things about him?

It might seem absurd that so many businesses rest on the whims of a man with such a limited worldview. But in his grand declaration of TikTok’s return, Trump explicitly stated, “Americans deserve to see our exciting Inauguration on Monday.” The idea of any leader reviving TikTok purely to appear on as many screens as possible would be unimaginable — unless, of course, we’re talking about Trump. It appears the platform has not yet escaped its precarious position of existing at the mercy of someone who can arbitrarily decide its fate and role within the community.

His announcement hasn’t been as well-received as he might have expected, with many quick to remind him that he was the one who orchestrated TikTok’s shutdown in the first place. Business Insider reports that as early as 2019, Mark Zuckerberg was already meeting with Trump to raise concerns about his Chinese competitors, alleging that they posed a threat to American businesses.

It’s unlikely Zuckerberg was referring to a threat to small American businesses thriving on TikTok, but rather to mega-corporations like his formerly trustworthy platform Meta. Regardless, Trump took the bait and began the process of banning TikTok. Yet, during his campaign, a surge of ers on the platform led him to openly promise that, if elected, he would save TikTok because he’s “now a star” on it.

Some s on X have already called him out, with one highlighting “the switch-up” of Trump acting as though he was never against TikTok. 

Another shared headlines of Trump’s previous declarations to ban TikTok seemingly for posterity.

A third gave a firm reminder that Trump’s newfound for TikTok is purely political. Posing the question of what might happen if the platform no longer serves his interests.

TikTok has already released a statement on X thanking President Trump for his assistance, with the app quickly returning to full functionality. For now, calamity has been averted as Trump extends the timeline for the ban, allowing more time to find an American company to purchase 50% of TikTok’s U.S. operations.

We could probably put together an extensive list of statements and topics that get under President-elect Donald Trump’s skin. One of them is feeling like he’s not the one in control – which we could already tell, given the Jan. 2021 insurrection attempt. One of the most recent pet peeves that Trump now seemingly suffers from is hearing Elon Musk being called “President” instead of him.

The phrase started trending when Musk took his “first buddy” duties to a new level by toppling the first domino that nearly resulted in a government shutdown. Why? Because, taking his future duties as the head of the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) very seriously, he was not pleased with how the government spending budget was being allocated. Thus, he had to humiliate House Speaker Mike Johnson by nearly and single-handedly having his meticulously negotiated bill dead in the water. The kicker? Musk’s influence was center stage on the digital town square that is X.

Without a doubt, Trump’s alliances with right-wing tech moguls have helped him immensely, monetarily and politically, including in this 2024 election. But perhaps no one was as openly solicitous and vocal in his as the richest man on the planet.

Considering Trump posted a screengrab of Musk’s tweet pointing the finger at the media for “parroting the same message to drive a wedge between” Trump and himself, the pair seem to have adopted a countermeasure strategy to address the online and press mockery of their thriving friendship:

But, “buddyship” aside, there is a limit to how much political impact and intervention Trump can allow Musk, especially once it affects his image and how he’s perceived by the public. Unsurprisingly, since he’s shown time and again that appearances are key – probably more significant to him than enacting actual helpful policies for the working class.

The response in a nutshell: ‘Not in his job description. Plus, he’s South African.’ 1tm14

On Sunday, Dec. 22, Donald Trump gave a speech at the AmericaFest in Phoenix, Arizona, and besides predictably kicking transgender rights in America while they are down, the President-elect decided to also address the viral hashtag:

“No, he’s not taking the Presidency. I like having smart people. They are on a new kick, ‘Russia, Russia, Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine,’ all the different hoaxes. The new one is: ‘President Trump has ceded the Presidency to Elon Musk!’ No, No. That’s not happening.”

He then promises Musk “is not gonna be president.” ittedly, listening to the septuagenarian state that the richer billionaire won’t be taking over the presidency since “he wasn’t born in this country” is certainly hilarious to both sides of the political aisle – although most likely for different reasons. What makes it even better is that the statement is followed by one of the driest little chuckles the Republican politician has ever been heard uttering in public.

In the comments under the TikTok clip MSNBC posted, Netizens were having a field day: “It’s getting to him! yes!” one wrote. Another, had to double down on the hilarious – albeit frightening in its implications – joke: “Did President Musk approve this message VP Trump delivered?” Others still, went further by suggesting Trump is not even VP – speaking of which, Vance, where art thou? – he’s “Press Secretary.”

One TikTok even found the perfect cinematic comparison to draw:

Only the willfully blind – or those with the social and critical perspicacity of a nutcracker – can not see how a certain someone’s ego is bruised at the repeated suggestions that, after all, he may not be the big Daddy in charge. In a world where capital can buy you the presidency, we know who paid the most for it this last U.S. election cycle.