Closer looks at the Trump-Musk feud from Colbert, Kosta, Kimmel, and Meyers

I told my readers "the Trump-Musk feud is too shiny an object to pass up" yesterday and I'm following through with Stephen Colbert's Thursday night monologue, Musk-Trump Feud Goes Nuclear | DHS's 22-Year-Old Terrorism Chief.

A full-scale flame war has broken out between the world's most famous besties, causing their former buddy Kanye West to wade into the fray, and an intern is running Homeland Security's terrorism prevention unit.

Yes, it's bad when Kanye West is the voice of reason. As for Thomas Fugate, the 22-year-old former Heritage Foundation intern now in charge of terrorism prevention, I bet he submitted his resume through Project 2025. Only the best people.

Mike Kosta covered it as the top story in Trump and Musk Feud Goes Nuclear, Threats Fly, Kanye Calls For Ceasefire | The Daily Show.

Michael Kosta unpacks the latest in Musk and Trump’s messy bromance breakup: Elon doubling down on critiques against the Big Beautiful Bill, Trump’s parent-level guilt, Kanye West calling for a ceasefire, and threats of an Epstein files leak. Plus, Grace Kuhlenschmidt explains that the president is merely playing a game of 7D chess.

"The thing that was always going to happen is now happening." It was always a matter of when, not if. I'm just surprised at how quickly matters escalated.

BTW, the right-wingers thinking this is what wrestling calls a work, not a shoot have bought into the kayfabe. Remember, Donald "Hoover Cleveland" Trump is in the WWE Hall of Fame and, while Elon Musk started it and I think that's real, what I described as Hoover Cleveland's "feral instincts for self-promotion, dominance, and survival" have kicked in and he will exploit the situation for his benefit. How, I don't know yet, but keep watching to see.

Jimmy Kimmel chimed in with Elon Goes NUCLEAR on Trump, Claims He’s in Epstein Files & MAGA Nuts Downplay the Rift Between Them

The new head of U.S. Terror Prevention is a 22 year old who graduated from college twelve months ago, Elon went nuclear on Donald Trump - said that he’s in the Epstein Files which is why they have not been made public and Musk agreed with a post that said Trump should be impeached and replaced with JD Vance, the MAGAs are hard at work trying to downplay the rift between their king and benefactor, and the judge at the Diddy trial in New York threatened to ban him from the courtroom.

This is a surprisingly concise and focused video description for Jimmy K, which tells my readers and me how much the feud is taking up all the oxygen in the room. About the only new take is Musk agreeing with a call for Hoover Cleveland's impeachment and JD Vance replacing him. I expect Vance will keep his mouth shut, especially if he agrees. Maybe Sean "Diddy" Combs should follow Vance's example.

It wouldn't be a closer look post without Seth Meyers, so here is Musk-Trump Feud Goes Nuclear as Musk Lobs Epstein Accusations, Trump Threatens SpaceX: A Closer Look.

Seth takes a closer look at Trump threatening to take away Elon Musk's government contracts and Musk saying Trump was in the Epstein files.

I'm glad to see some focus on the House Republicans who voted for the bill and Joni Ernst ("Joni Hearse") getting grief from their constituents. They deserve it. Also, I was wondering when the other late night hosts would follow Jimmy Kimmel playing 'TACO Man' for Trump. It took a week!

I close the circle by returning to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert's cold open, Donald And Elon Attend Couples Therapy.

As the song says, breaking up is hard to do.

Colbert satirizing the feud as an episode of Couples Therapy isn't just brilliant comedy. It's also cross-promotion of another Paramount property, as Couples Therapy is a Showtime series. As I wrote most recently in 'SNL' celebrates Mother's Day 2025, "'It's not just news value that's driving it.' Or comedy value, for that matter."

Stay tuned as I return to the News & Doc Emmy Awards for tomorrow's Sunday entertainment feature.