In the newest development from the “The Worst Person You Know Just Made A Great Point” saga, Steve Bannon has recently labeled Elon Musk a “truly evil person” whose primary ideology is the accumulation and safeguarding of his own fortunes. During an interview with the Italian publication Corriere Della Sera, Bannon remarked, “Stopping him has become a personal issue for me,” and vowed that he would manage to eject Musk from Trump’s close circle by the time of the inauguration.

Describing Bannon kindly, he’s a prejudiced, sexist, anti-democratic character who has been unsuccessful in nearly all his endeavors (aside from aiding Trump’s election, which, admittedly, is a substantial achievement in his win column). However, he possesses an acute understanding of Musk—possibly because no one identifies a fraudster as effectively as another fraudster—so allow him to elaborate for a moment.

In the discussion, Bannon asserts that Musk’s alliance with Trump was solely to defend his vast wealth. “He will do anything to ensure that any of his companies is safeguarded or advantages him for more profit,” Bannon stated. “His focus is the collection of wealth and then—through wealth—power: that’s his goal.” He stated that Musk lacks any genuine ideological commitment, having just the “sole objective” of ascending to trillionaire status, and accused him of championing “techno-feudalism on an international level.” Moreover, he predicted that Musk would easily withdraw, claiming, “He won’t fight. He possesses the maturity of a child.”

It seems Bannon and Musk are on a collision course as the subsequent Trump administration advances toward its beginning. Musk, presently inhabiting the Hanger-On-in-Chief position formerly held by Bannon, continues forming his so-termed “Department of Government Efficiency,” as per a new disclosure by the New York Times. Musk enjoys portraying DOGE as an authentic agency on Twitter—bestowing it with a gray “government” verification check mark and all—yet the unit mainly exists within Signal conversations involving elite Silicon Valley circles.

Musk has allegedly been inviting tech industry leaders who have shown interest in infiltrating government circles to undertake two six-month periods, unpaid, laboring 80 hours weekly—essentially Musk’s dream setup for anyone working under him. Those prepared to agree (the “unpaid” aspect has been a dealbreaker for many, as reported by NYT) will be placed within an agency and tasked with advising on operational enhancements and cost reductions.

The true nature and influence of DOGE remain to be observed. Trump has stated his intent to pursue the creation of the group, although it would be powerless—restricted to issuing advice and little else. Moreover, the latest buzz within Trump’s circle is that the president-elect is growing weary of Musk’s constant presence. Appearing on Kara Swisher’s podcast, New York Times correspondent Maggie Haberman recently remarked, “Musk appears more willing to provoke Trump than many others have been and less worried about potential repercussions,” describing their alliance as a “tense relationship” with the “likelihood of becoming even more strained.”

If Bannon intends to push Musk aside, it certainly looks like Musk is emphasizing his presence. Yet forecasting exactly where Trump will pledge his allegiances is no simple task. Bannon has already dealt a significant blow in the MAGA internal conflict. During the H-1B visa dispute, wherein Musk and the tech elite defended the mechanism for drawing skilled immigrants, Bannon stood in opposition, contending that “the entire immigration apparatus is rigged by tech magnates.” (His genuine issue stems from his prejudiced belief that there are too many Asians in the tech sector, which he claims undermines “societal integration” but Bannon is skilled at recasting his viewpoints to suit current sentiments.)

Musk emerged victorious in that clash, with Trump aligning with Musk and asserting that he’s always supported promoting talent’s entry into America. But the truth is, Musk’s practicality to Trump might be nearing its conclusion. He willingly accepted Musk’s contributions as Musk fully endorsed Trump’s candidacy, yet it’s uncertain whether Musk can maintain his role as more beneficial than bothersome within the actual White House. While Bannon might currently be on the outskirts, he’s got a notable ability to persevere like a cockroach. The real disappointment is that one of them will eventually prevail. In any case, the rest of us face defeat.