Nothing in American culture suggested a high-drama split between these two billionaires who ventured into politics.
American notions of “good citizenship” and a win-win mindset should have paved the way for a courteous parting — which the two even staged in the Oval Office — until an unrestrained Musk blew up that facade.
And yet, this explosive breakup was entirely predictable. The media keeps looking for political or economic motives, but the reality is much simpler: you don’t put two crocodiles in the same pond.
Both Trump and Musk have a “dominant” profile. This isn’t inherently good or bad — it can be an asset in situations that require bold troubleshooting, but a liability when empathy is needed.
However, two dominators in the same arena inevitably clash. This dynamic is common in many executive committees or project teams, whether international or not.
The takeaway: To understand and defuse workplace misunderstandings, you have to consider both dimensions — intercultural profiles and managerial profiles.
GapsMoov can expertly support tailored workshops to help teams navigate this complexity.
