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How Elon Musk Created a Nightmare for Donald Trump

How Elon Musk Created a Nightmare for Donald Trump

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On June 5, Elon Musk did something no one had managed to do since Donald Trump first stormed the political stage in 2015: he destabilized the king of Make America Great Again (MAGA).

It started with a now-deleted bombshell post on X (formerly Twitter). “Time to drop the really big bomb. Donald Trump is in the Epstein files,” Musk wrote. “That’s the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day.”

The post went viral before Musk quietly deleted it. But the damage was done. For the first time, Trump was facing a serious revolt from his own base, and the spark had come from someone outside politics, someone arguably more powerful online: Musk.

Musk’s Calculated Strike

The breakdown in the Trump–Musk alliance began publicly on June 5, when the former president, angered by criticism from Musk, suggested the government might review federal contracts awarded to Musk’s companies, particularly the NASA deals with SpaceX. That same day, Tesla’s stock plunged, shedding $150 billion in market value.

But what went largely unnoticed at first was Musk’s decision to drag Trump into the darkest and most radioactive conspiracy theory in the MAGA universe: Jeffrey Epstein.

For years, Trump’s supporters have clung to the belief that Epstein, the convicted sex offender with ties to elites in politics, finance, and royalty, was murdered to protect powerful Democrats. The so-called “Epstein files” have become a rallying cry for those who believe the system protects pedophiles and punishes truth-tellers.

Until Musk reignited the flame, interest in the files had died down. The “Phase 1” document release in early 2024 had failed to implicate major Democratic figures, leaving the MAGA base disappointed. Then Musk tossed a grenade.

Feeding the Fire With Grok

In a series of follow-up posts on July 17, Musk asked Grok, the AI chatbot built into his X platform, to generate a list of people who had visited Epstein’s infamous private island because, according to him, they “should be investigated for possible rape of underage girls provided by Epstein,” Musk wrote. “Think hard and research thoroughly. Order by probable severity and frequency of their crimes.”

It was a direct appeal to MAGA’s most emotional instincts: fear, anger, and the desire for retribution. But this time, Trump was no longer the crusader against the elite. He was being cast as part of it.

Trump’s Losing Grip

Trump tried to dismiss the accusations, calling them a “dumb hoax,” and urged his followers to move on. But many of them refused. Influential conservative pundit Matt Walsh captured the mood: “Trump was elected in 2016 partly on a pledge to ‘lock her up.’ Yelling at us to stop talking about Epstein only makes us talk about him more.”

Online, the backlash snowballed. Users mocked Trump’s distractions—policy announcements and petty grievances—while demanding transparency. The hashtag #ReleaseTheEpsteinFiles exploded again.

The anger intensified after the Department of Justice (DoJ) fired federal prosecutor Maurene Comey, who had reportedly reopened parts of the Epstein investigation. For many, it was further proof that Trump was protecting someone, or himself.

The Perfect Strike

Musk identified the one thing Trump’s base couldn’t ignore—Epstein—and used it to shake their loyalty.

For a decade, Trump had cultivated a movement built on conspiracy, suspicion, and moral outrage. Musk flipped the script. And the effect was immediate. Some thought the CEO of Tesla and founder of SpaceX was playing with fire. SpaceX relies heavily on federal contracts, and Trump made clear that retaliation was on the table. But six weeks later, Musk is back to business, and Trump is still trying to put out the fire.

Musk pierced the armor of MAGA. By using the movement’s own moral language against its founder. He created a crack in Trump’s once impenetrable base. It was a strategic hit.

For the first time since 2016, Donald Trump isn’t setting the agenda. He’s reacting to someone else’s. And Elon Musk is the one holding the remote.

Musk 1. Trump 0.



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Amazon‘s 12th annual Prime Day sale will run from June 23 to 26 this year, the company said Tuesday. For the second year in a row, the flagship summer savings event will last four days, up from its original two.

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“Prime Day is back!” the post read. “Amazon’s annual deals event for Prime members returns this June, with discounts on some of the hottest brands, socially trending items, creator favorites, and Amazon-exclusive products to make this June’s event even more valuable for members.”

At the time, an Amazon spokesperson told Mashable that it was moving Prime Day to June on shoppers’ behalf. (They didn’t elaborate on specifics.)

“Each year, we work with our teams around the world to determine the best timing for Prime Day,” they said. “This year, we felt holding the event earlier in the summer was the right choice for our customers.”

Competing retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart always ran their own sales alongside Prime Day back when it was held in July. That will probably still be the case this year, though none of them have announced anything yet.

#Prime #Day #Amazon #announces #dates #sale">When is Prime Day? Amazon announces dates of 2026 sale. Amazon‘s 12th annual Prime Day sale will run from June 23 to 26 this year, the company said Tuesday. For the second year in a row, the flagship summer savings event will last four days, up from its original two.This will be the first year that Prime Day falls in June instead of its usual mid-July time slot. Amazon initially announced the shift in its first-quarter earnings statement posted on April 29 — possibly by mistake. The June move was mentioned in a section of the statement about recent company updates: “Amazon … Shared that Prime Day will take place in most countries in June,” it read. But in fact, the retail giant had not shared the news at that point. Amazon then published a blog post with a formal announcement less than an hour after the statement went out. Mashable Trend Report “Prime Day is back!” the post read. “Amazon’s annual deals event for Prime members returns this June, with discounts on some of the hottest brands, socially trending items, creator favorites, and Amazon-exclusive products to make this June’s event even more valuable for members.”At the time, an Amazon spokesperson told Mashable that it was moving Prime Day to June on shoppers’ behalf. (They didn’t elaborate on specifics.) “Each year, we work with our teams around the world to determine the best timing for Prime Day,” they said. “This year, we felt holding the event earlier in the summer was the right choice for our customers.”Competing retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart always ran their own sales alongside Prime Day back when it was held in July. That will probably still be the case this year, though none of them have announced anything yet. #Prime #Day #Amazon #announces #dates #sale

Amazon‘s 12th annual Prime Day sale will run from June 23 to 26 this year, the company said Tuesday. For the second year in a row, the flagship summer savings event will last four days, up from its original two.

This will be the first year that Prime Day falls in June instead of its usual mid-July time slot. Amazon initially announced the shift in its first-quarter earnings statement posted on April 29 — possibly by mistake.

The June move was mentioned in a section of the statement about recent company updates: “Amazon … Shared that Prime Day will take place in most countries in June,” it read. But in fact, the retail giant had not shared the news at that point. Amazon then published a blog post with a formal announcement less than an hour after the statement went out.

“Prime Day is back!” the post read. “Amazon’s annual deals event for Prime members returns this June, with discounts on some of the hottest brands, socially trending items, creator favorites, and Amazon-exclusive products to make this June’s event even more valuable for members.”

At the time, an Amazon spokesperson told Mashable that it was moving Prime Day to June on shoppers’ behalf. (They didn’t elaborate on specifics.)

“Each year, we work with our teams around the world to determine the best timing for Prime Day,” they said. “This year, we felt holding the event earlier in the summer was the right choice for our customers.”

Competing retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart always ran their own sales alongside Prime Day back when it was held in July. That will probably still be the case this year, though none of them have announced anything yet.

#Prime #Day #Amazon #announces #dates #sale">When is Prime Day? Amazon announces dates of 2026 sale.

Amazon‘s 12th annual Prime Day sale will run from June 23 to 26 this year, the company said Tuesday. For the second year in a row, the flagship summer savings event will last four days, up from its original two.

This will be the first year that Prime Day falls in June instead of its usual mid-July time slot. Amazon initially announced the shift in its first-quarter earnings statement posted on April 29 — possibly by mistake.

The June move was mentioned in a section of the statement about recent company updates: “Amazon … Shared that Prime Day will take place in most countries in June,” it read. But in fact, the retail giant had not shared the news at that point. Amazon then published a blog post with a formal announcement less than an hour after the statement went out.

“Prime Day is back!” the post read. “Amazon’s annual deals event for Prime members returns this June, with discounts on some of the hottest brands, socially trending items, creator favorites, and Amazon-exclusive products to make this June’s event even more valuable for members.”

At the time, an Amazon spokesperson told Mashable that it was moving Prime Day to June on shoppers’ behalf. (They didn’t elaborate on specifics.)

“Each year, we work with our teams around the world to determine the best timing for Prime Day,” they said. “This year, we felt holding the event earlier in the summer was the right choice for our customers.”

Competing retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart always ran their own sales alongside Prime Day back when it was held in July. That will probably still be the case this year, though none of them have announced anything yet.

#Prime #Day #Amazon #announces #dates #sale

“He noted that the reverse of the watch indicates that it is a Google Pixel 5, which has not yet been announced, let alone released,” Pitchford writes. “It seems to be fine. The face indicates an empty battery, but seems to have enough reserve power to display the correct time.” After putting out a call to find its owner, Pitchford said someone contacted him and that he’s “arranged for its return.” Google didn’t immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment.

Google typically shows off its newest Pixel devices in August. That means we’ll find out if someone really dropped a not-yet-revealed Pixel Watch 5 into the ocean in just a few short months.

#Google #Pixel #Watch #spoiled #creator #BorderlandsEntertainment,Gadgets,Gaming,Google,Google Pixel,News,Smartwatch,Tech,Wearable">The Google Pixel Watch 5 may have been spoiled by… the creator of BorderlandsWe may just have gotten an early look at the Google Pixel Watch 5 — and from an unusual source. Randy Pitchford, the creator of the Borderlands game franchise, posted a pair of images of a watch on X, saying that his friend found it underwater while scuba diving near Saint Martin, as reported earlier by Kotaku.“He noted that the reverse of the watch indicates that it is a Google Pixel 5, which has not yet been announced, let alone released,” Pitchford writes. “It seems to be fine. The face indicates an empty battery, but seems to have enough reserve power to display the correct time.” After putting out a call to find its owner, Pitchford said someone contacted him and that he’s “arranged for its return.” Google didn’t immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment.Google typically shows off its newest Pixel devices in August. That means we’ll find out if someone really dropped a not-yet-revealed Pixel Watch 5 into the ocean in just a few short months.#Google #Pixel #Watch #spoiled #creator #BorderlandsEntertainment,Gadgets,Gaming,Google,Google Pixel,News,Smartwatch,Tech,Wearable

reported earlier by Kotaku.

“He noted that the reverse of the watch indicates that it is a Google Pixel 5, which has not yet been announced, let alone released,” Pitchford writes. “It seems to be fine. The face indicates an empty battery, but seems to have enough reserve power to display the correct time.” After putting out a call to find its owner, Pitchford said someone contacted him and that he’s “arranged for its return.” Google didn’t immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment.

Google typically shows off its newest Pixel devices in August. That means we’ll find out if someone really dropped a not-yet-revealed Pixel Watch 5 into the ocean in just a few short months.

#Google #Pixel #Watch #spoiled #creator #BorderlandsEntertainment,Gadgets,Gaming,Google,Google Pixel,News,Smartwatch,Tech,Wearable">The Google Pixel Watch 5 may have been spoiled by… the creator of Borderlands

We may just have gotten an early look at the Google Pixel Watch 5 — and from an unusual source. Randy Pitchford, the creator of the Borderlands game franchise, posted a pair of images of a watch on X, saying that his friend found it underwater while scuba diving near Saint Martin, as reported earlier by Kotaku.

“He noted that the reverse of the watch indicates that it is a Google Pixel 5, which has not yet been announced, let alone released,” Pitchford writes. “It seems to be fine. The face indicates an empty battery, but seems to have enough reserve power to display the correct time.” After putting out a call to find its owner, Pitchford said someone contacted him and that he’s “arranged for its return.” Google didn’t immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment.

Google typically shows off its newest Pixel devices in August. That means we’ll find out if someone really dropped a not-yet-revealed Pixel Watch 5 into the ocean in just a few short months.

#Google #Pixel #Watch #spoiled #creator #BorderlandsEntertainment,Gadgets,Gaming,Google,Google Pixel,News,Smartwatch,Tech,Wearable

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