In order to understand the Trump/Musk dust-up, you have to understand the world of power as well as the pursuit of it: extremely complicated scenarios.  

In my book "Confronting the Presidents," we vividly portray how all 45 men dealt with power.  Most struggled with it because extreme discipline is needed to stay grounded in the real world. Abraham Lincoln handled it, and so did George Washington. However, others like Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon allowed themselves to misuse their authority.

Both President Trump and Elon Musk live in worlds where they call all the shots. There are few personal constraints on folks who have vast wealth and influence.

But when the powerful step out of their self-constructed bubbles, things can go south in a hurry.

The cliche is "staying in your own lane." Mr. Musk took a risky U-turn by hammering the President's tax and spending bill.  The richest man in the world did not have to do that publicly.  But he did.

Donald Trump's reaction was predictable on every level.  He expects loyalty from those in the administration, as all presidents do.  Also, he badly needs the bill to be passed so taxes don't automatically rise. That would likely lead to recession, dooming the President in the midterms.

Therefore, the proposed bill is vital to Donald Trump's legacy.  An attack on it is an attack on him.  That's the world of power.

I don't know if Elon Musk understands that. Vast wealth and power can absolutely obscure positive decision-making. History proves it again and again.  Dial up Napoleon.

Summing up, wielding power is a very rough game.  Few participants emerge unscathed.

See you this evening for the No Spin News.