The verbal battle between two born twitterers: it is not boring

In addition to power, politics and great egos, the smashing public fight between the richest man in the world and the president of the United States also about something else: the undiminished power of social media. The way in which Elon Musk and Donald Trump flew each other on Thursday evening in the Haren proved once again the unique talent they both have for this kind of media, as born twitterers and born fightsmakers.

Of course there were all kinds of important interests at stake, when the close bond between the two men before the eye of the world splashed so crackling. For the shareholders of Tesla, who had to see how the price of the share of dramatically ended, it was probably not a cheerful evening. Before the appearance of the United States as a world power, already battered, the insinuations and the threats over-and-weather were not good either. But whoever sympathized online will have to admit: it was not only big news but also big theater, Cabaret from the upper shelf.

Where else than on social media you can experience such an exciting, repulsive and yes, also entertaining performance in real time – and yes, also participate? By tweeting encouragements, or the most incredible groceries that the fighting coats gave each other again to share with followers, friends and acquaintances. By commenting on it, making jokes over, and immediately refresh the screen again to see if one of the kempans has already thrown up a new cannonball the digital space. « One thing is certain, » Musk rightly wrote in the middle of this greatest twitter gittie in history, « it’s not boring. »

Shout

In addition, the bystanders helped to a lack. At these moments, social media appear to inspire people to all kinds of creativity. Everyone can give the cartoonist or stand-up comedian that he had always wanted to be free. While the lightning bolts between the God of Maga and the God of X shot through the digital space, the people on earth played on it with photo collages, drawings and other memes.

A gif from gazing audience with the Vulgar Jerry Springershow From the nineties, where guests regularly tackled each other at the time. Yes, that again gave what happened before our eyes. Just like a picture from The Simpsons of a knife fight between two monkeys, encouraged by a group of bystanders.

And then there was one hilarious movie From a man with sunglasses and a large red beard, the comedian Brent Terhune, who threatens from his car as a child about the separation between ‘Daddy Elon and Daddy Trump’, and that the loser of the inevitable process about custody will be assigned to JD Vance.

In addition to the protagonists and the public, the chaotic verbal battle was still intensified because a few whole and half celebrities were also involved. As then the controversial rapper Kanye West, also known as Ye, scoured himself As an unlikely peace founder: « Broooos please noooooo, » he wrote on X. « We both love you both. » Was less peaceful the message From the mother of one of Musks children, Ashley St. Clair, who is involved with the billionaire in a bitter legal battle: « Hey @realdonaldtrump, let me know if you need advice about the divorce. »

The boiling point was reached when Musk wrote, without proof, on X: « Time to drop the real big bomb: @realdonaldtrump is found in the Epstein Files. Have a nice day, DJT! » From different sides, people eagerly and less well -known photos shared, and also a movie, from Trump with the convicted sex offender Epstein in the company of young and very young women or girls.

First Buddy

That the showdown did not take place in one boxing ring, but on various platforms – Musk on his own platform X, Trump on his own Platform Truth Social – turned out to be no obstacle to stay informed from minute to minute. Not for the president and not for the former ‘first buddy’, and not for the public.

Technology experts have been arguing for years to make communication between users of different platforms easier, so-called interoperability. Here the two aggravated Twitter giants put it into practice without difficulty. Even on the usually fairly quiet bluesky, the noisy drama in scents and colors could be followed.

Escalation in seven tweets

(Dutch times)

6.25 pm

The already simmering fight about Trumps ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’, which, according to Musk, increases the US budget deficit unacceptably, escalates on Thursday evening. Musk states that he has never seen the Tax Act, in response to Trumps statement to the press that he would have already seen it and found it good. From here it becomes bitter.

6.46 pm

Musk calls Trump ungrateful and states that he would never be elected without his (financial and political) support.

8.49 pm

Musk responds to Trumps threats to end government contracts, according to the president that is the fastest way to cut billions. An X user states that it ended with crew flights to or the dismantling of the International Space Station. « Make my day, » writes Musk provocatively direction, that is almost impossible, Trump.

9.10 pm

« Time to drop the really big bomb. » Musk states that the so-called Epstein files were not (completely) made public by Trump because the president himself appears. Billionaire and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who was found in his cell in his cell in 2019 awaiting a process, among other things, was a jet set friend of Trump and many other influential people. Below it calls to mark usk users at this post for the future. « The truth will come true. »

22.09 hours

Musk now states that he is out of use the (essential) Dragon room ships for the ISS, now that Trump has put government contracts with SpaceX at the trip.

10.11 pm

« Yes. » A message stating that Trump must be deposited and replaced by vice-president JD Vance can count on Musks approval.

03.29 hours, Friday morning

While the news spreads that Trump and Musk will call each other, tweet the last « team America » ​​in a photo of a rising Falcon 9 (Dragon), three months ago. The American flag fluttering in the foreground. With this mission, the crew was recalled that had been on the ISS for nine months.

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