Elon Musk received a rude lesson in American politics when his candidate for Wisconsin’s Supreme Court, Brad Shimel, lost to Susan Crawford by ten points, despite Musk contributing twenty-one million dollars. Not only that, Musk treated the Wisconsin electorate to a show, wearing a cheesehead and giving out money to voters. For all his rectitude concerning governmental finances, he appeared more like an old political boss than a reformer.

It is interesting that President Donald Trump avoided the race and allowed his latest partner to expose his ignorance to the voters. Musk did not realize or ignored that Wisconsin had a history of political probity when it came to money. Musk played the role of a carnival barker, engaging in a charade with a touch of low comedy added for good measure. He became the issue, and Trump let him take the fall.

Between him and the Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, both amassed gaffes aplenty concerning Social Security. Lutnick told an interviewer that his mother would not worry if she missed a SS check. Given that he is a billionaire, his comments seemed out of touch with reality. Not to be outdone, Musk called the old age pension system a “Ponzi Scheme.” These two amateurs managed to strike fear among retirees unnecessarily and handed Democrats a potent weapon.

Stephen Bannon warned against Musk early in the administration, regarding him as false MAGA. He called him a “techno-feudalist,” among other things, and cautioned that Musk may have been a bit too public in his statements. Moreover, Musk caused Trump headaches because the President was emphatic about protecting Social Security and Medicare.

As with most politicians, he championed cuts, especially those aimed at curbing that old standard “waste, fraud, and abuse.” But Musk and DOGE drove government efficiency into the ground.

Naturally, Trump will not admit failure; he will simply let Musk fade away — again, a classic approach to an overambitious subordinate. Ronald Reagan once took his Office of Management and Budget Chief, David Stockman, “to the woodshed” for his imprudence in speaking critically to a reporter about “Reaganomics.” No firing but Stockman quietly left the administration. Trump’s national Security Chief, Mike Waltz, made a similar mistake in allowing a hostile reporter in on an unsecured chat.

However, Trump cannot be pleased with his subordinates’ disregard for his political standing. Musk, from the beginning, gave the impression that he was co-president, immune from the normal rules of protocol.

Perhaps Trump, who has considerable savvy, foresaw the Musk saga. It is not by any means serious, but any more similar mistakes could potentially weaken his presidency.