Overview
- More than a dozen sources told The Washington Post that Vice President JD Vance used backchannels and specific concessions to repair President Trump’s rupture with Elon Musk.
- Concrete steps included lobbying to revive Jared Isaacman’s stalled NASA nomination and reassigning White House aide Sergio Gor, moves described as key to easing tensions.
- The renewed relationship is described by sources as delicate, with both camps viewing the peace as fragile.
- Republican strategists say Musk’s money and massive online reach could shape the 2028 GOP field, with some noting Vance may need Musk’s backing more than Trump’s endorsement.
- Operatives warn that Musk’s volatility carries political risk for Vance, even as Musk reengaged after the June rupture and later predicted Vance would win the presidency in 2028.