"Trump and Musk view others as mere background noise," says a political psychologist, shedding light on their unusual friendship and peculiar statements.
The unpredictable duo of the recently elected US President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk is likely to not last long. They will find it difficult to tolerate each other.
Recently, these influential figures have joined forces and stunned the world: Trump mockingly suggests Canada become the 51st state and wants to buy Greenland. Elon Musk has been attacking Trump’s opponents and recently called Justin Trudeau a "girl".
"The Telegraph" decided to talk with political psychologist and head of the mass and community psychology laboratory at the Institute of Social and Political Psychology of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences Vadim Vasyutinsky about how the scandalous statements of Donald Trump and Elon Musk can be understood from a psychological perspective.
Similarities Between Musk and Trump
Vadim Vasyutinsky asserts that the first similarity between Musk and Trump is their pronounced egocentrism. Both are focused on their own thoughts and feelings.
"In this, as they perceive it, they find their criteria for truth. It’s as if if he thinks that way — that is the truth. If someone thinks differently, then they are mistaken,” explains Vasyutinsky.
The second point is that both can be described as psychopaths. They are indifferent to what other people think. Other people are just a backdrop for themselves.
"It could also be said that they are amoral. Moral criteria do not matter to them. Morality is primarily about how we take into account the interests of others. Since the interests and opinions of others do not interest them, one could say that morality does not exist for them. What exists for them is some practical benefit, political gain, personal gain — just noise,” says the psychologist.
Both Trump and Musk are demonstrative, seeking to be in the spotlight:
"For them, the worst situation is when they are forgotten and no one thinks about them. Everyone else must constantly think about them. Trump is more demonstrative. He needs to be in front of microphones and cameras. Musk is slightly less dependent on such overt attention; he enjoys knowing that the world admires him. He is confident and finds that more sufficient."
The last point is megalomania.
"But for Trump, it’s a mania to own America, Make America Great Again, and everything that follows — Greenland, Mexico, Canada. For Musk, it’s a mania to own the world. Moreover, not in such a concrete manner (politically or economically), but intellectually and technologically,” summarized Vasyutinsky.
Differences Between Them
The political psychologist believes Musk is smarter than Trump, even though both have achieved a lot: Musk has built a technological empire, while Trump has built a business.
Their achievements, power, and methods of control also differ slightly. What Trump has is the result of pragmatic ownership, endless discussions about any deals he loves. Musk's power is more dangerous because it represents a symbolic ownership of the world.
"I was surprised by Musk's desire to be near Trump. I thought Musk was a more value-oriented person: psychologically more complex, deeper. Therefore, he wouldn’t need Trump. It would be Trump needing Musk. But it seems that’s not the case. If we agree with the recent words of his biographer that Musk has gone mad, then that can explain it somehow. However, I can’t say that as a psychologist experienced in clinical practice. I still can’t say that Musk is crazy,” notes Vasyutinsky.
Why They Make a Sweet Pair
What unites them? Musk needs Trump to specify his power and materialize his influence. There is no doubt about his symbolic power: he is arguably the richest person, a leader in technology, and plans to fly to Mars, and so on. The whole world acknowledges this.
"But it seems that he needs more; he needs to specify and materialize this power, particularly in a political form. It’s like, look, the president of the most powerful country listens to me. President Trump will govern America, while I am already governing Trump. This is a manifestation of his power over Trump, and therefore over the world,” explains the psychologist.
And why does Musk need Trump? The psychologist points out that Trump is already of a respectable age (78 years) and needs "fresh blood": energy and new ideas, as he can no longer surprise the world with his own ideas.
"Since he will become the president of a superpower, the world expects a lot from him. Ukrainians expect something from him because he promised to end the war... He is an egocentric, a demonstrative figure, and he needs to somehow prove his power. To do this, he chooses Musk as a source that confirms his real power and so on,” says the psychologist.
However, a very important nuance is that egocentric and demonstrative personalities with megalomania typically cannot stand each other.
"Therefore, the chances that Trump will tolerate Musk by his side for long are quite slim. But the chances that their alliance will be strong, lasting, and effective are virtually nonexistent. It is already evident that the American establishment is unhappy that Trump has taken Musk under his wing. Questions are already arising about who Musk is. If Trump’s claims about Greenland, Mexico, and Canada stem from Musk's influence, and if that influence is indeed unhealthy, then I think it will soon end with Trump distancing himself from Musk. I believe Trump won’t be able to sustain himself on Musk’s ideas for long because they are not very adequate, and in America, there is still a very strong political system. They won’t tolerate Trump with his semi-crazy ideas. The prospects for this alliance are — if not weeks, then months, but definitely not years,” says the psychologist.
How Should We React Now, and Should We React at All?
The world is currently reacting more or less adequately to the ideas of annexing territories from several countries to the US, says the psychologist.
"As long as Trump is not the president of the US, there are no grounds to react officially. If such statements continue after the inauguration, there should be a response. For instance, Greenland concerns Denmark; Denmark is a member of NATO and the European Union, and Canada certainly has its status, and there should already be official statements from the respective countries and international organizations… I think he (Trump – Ed.) will quiet down. American politicians will say: Mr. President, you cannot speak like this.”
Let’s remind that besides Canada and Greenland, Trump has expressed a desire to regain US control over the Panama Canal, claiming that Panama overcharges for transit.