Asked by Sean Hannity to reflect on his long and winding career during a pre-taped interview that aired Wednesday night, Elon Musk conspicuously pivoted to Donald Trump. Hannity insisted that Musk flex his muscles and explain how he came to Washington after decades of hugely consequential work in Silicon Valley, but the X owner still wouldn’t do it. Clearly, Musk was wary about taking too much of the limelight from the man sat next to him.

Trump, for his part, breezily rejected rumours of a feud between himself and the world’s richest man. The President said he “respect[ed] Musk and “couldn’t find anyone smarter”. “I feel like I’m interviewing two brothers here,” Hannity responded.

It’s true: the pair joked and nodded in agreement with one another’s points. Musk lavished praise on Trump, and Trump returned the favour, lauding the CEO’s business acumen.

Still, one got the sense that Hannity saw the interview as an opportunity to help Musk persuade the public that DOGE has everything under control by sharing his entrepreneurial bona fides. “At the end of this interview,” Hannity said, “I want people to know the relationship and know more about you.”

Despite these repeated attempts and an hour of airtime, Musk, who we learned last week appears to be the father of a five-month-old baby with MAGA influencer Ashley St. Claire, revealed precious little about his life and his background. Instead, Musk preferred to complain about the “daily proctology exam” he’s receiving in Washington. “I haven’t asked the president for anything ever,” he told Hannity when asked about potential conflicts of interest. “If there’s a conflict he won’t be involved,” said Trump, adding, “He won’t want it.”

The President offered as an example news that congressional Republicans are cutting back on electric vehicle subsidies in upcoming tax legislation. “He’s probably not happy with it,” Trump suggested, arguing Musk never asked for a favour on the matter. But, of course, as early as July, Musk had signalled his willingness — if not eagerness — to depart with the subsidies. “Take away the subsidies,” he posted. “It will only help Tesla.”

Trump assured Hannity the public’s Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits would not be harmed in DOGE’s sweeping reform campaign. Musk, meanwhile, continues indicating his team is looking to crack down on fraud in the system which could, at least temporarily, lead to accidental lapses if done wrong.

The X owner also referred to “some” DOGE staffers as employees of the federal government without mentioning he’s also a “special government employee” in the executive branch. Nor did he elaborate on the curious arrangement outlined in a White House filing this week that stipulated “Mr. Musk is not the U.S. DOGE Service Administrator” but merely an employee of the White House Office.

These aren’t irrelevant distinctions to the question of Musk’s conflicts of interest, but Hannity kept the lens zoomed out and focused on broad questions that, in many cases, were already asked and answered. Hannity’s casual conversations with Trump and his deputies aren’t always softballs. In the process of working through friendly questions, the Fox presenter has often coaxed Trump into some genuinely revelatory exchanges.

As for Trump and Musk, the interview could reflect a new sense of seriousness about the project of radical government reform. It could also reflect both Trump and Musk’s understanding of the stakes at hand: lose Trump and, if you’re Musk, lose historic, unprecedented access to power. Lose Musk and, if you’re Trump, lose the backing of one of the most powerful men to ever walk the earth. Their alliance will remain untouchable until that balance shifts.

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