How Sam Altman Could Break Up Elon Musk and Donald Trump

The rivalry between Sam Altman and Elon Musk is entering its Apprentice era. Both men have the ambition to redefine how the modern world works--and both are jockeying for President Donald Trump's blessing to accelerate their plans. Altman's company, OpenAI, as well as Musk's ventures--which include SpaceX, Tesla, and xAI--all depend to some degree on federal dollars, permits, and regulatory support. The president could influence whether OpenAI or xAI produces the next major AI breakthrough, whether Musk can succeed in sending a human to Mars, and whether Altman's big bet on nuclear energy, and fusion reactors in particular, pans out. Understanding the competition between these two men helps illuminate Trump's particular style of governing--one defined by patronage and dealmaking.