US President Donald Trump is facing growing pressure. Recently, Elon Musk turned against him and publicly backed Vice President JD Vance as a possible replacement. As a result, Trump is reportedly feeling isolated and betrayed.
Wolff Says Trump Feels Surrounded
Speaking on The Daily Beast Podcast, journalist and Trump biographer Michael Wolff said Trump now feels surrounded by disloyalty. According to Wolff, one major concern is JD Vance, the senator-turned-vice president.
Importantly, Wolff revealed that Trump never truly trusted Vance. He described him as “an unlikely Republican” whose popularity comes more from “the tech bro community” than traditional conservatives.
Moreover, Wolff claimed Trump didn’t fully choose Vance on his own. Instead, Musk pushed for it. “He will set up what we will see as a set of tests that Vance is going to have to endure and pass,” Wolff explained. “(Vance has) got to profess his absolute loyalty to Trump, or he will just be marginalized within the administration.”
Vance Affirms Loyalty Amid Musk Feud
In response to Musk’s growing distance from Trump, Vance quickly backed the president. During the feud, he stated, “I’m the vice president to President Trump. My loyalties are always going to be with the president.” He added, “I think it’s a huge mistake for (Musk) to go after the president like that.”
Therefore, Vance appears eager to prove himself. Wolff warned that Trump expects constant devotion. “Trump demands flattery on a constant basis,” he said. As a result, Vance must be very careful if he wants to keep Trump’s trust.
Musk Brings Up Epstein, Raises the Stakes
Later, Musk increased the pressure by claiming on X (formerly Twitter) that Trump’s name appeared in Jeffrey Epstein’s files. Wolff viewed this as extremely dangerous for Trump. “The Epstein stuff floats around Trump as a consistent threat, as a consistent silver bullet really,” Wolff said. “Musk could always bring back the threat.”
White House Fires Back at Wolff
Soon after, White House Communications Director Steven Chung launched a sharp response. He told The Daily Beast, “He (Wolff) is an imbecile of the highest order, and his Trump Derangement Syndrome-addled brain has caused him to lead a miserable existence devoid of reality.”
Additionally, Chung said, “Nothing he says is the truth and he resorts to outlandish falsehoods in order to stay relevant since Father Time has passed him by 20 years ago.” He finished by calling Wolff “a blithering idiot who has been widely discredited due to his blatant lies and fabrications.”