FT News Briefing Predicting 2026: Will Trump and Musk officially reunite?
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Dec 31, 2025 
Edward Luce, the U.S. national editor and columnist at the Financial Times, dives deep into the intriguing relationship between Donald Trump and Elon Musk. He explores the factors that caused their friendship to falter, including Musk’s unpredictable behavior and political fallout. Luce forecasts a potential political reconciliation in 2026, driven by Musk’s need for regulatory favors as he gears up for the midterms. The duo's turbulent history offers a fascinating lens into the future of American politics.
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AI Threat To European Banking Jobs
- Morgan Stanley estimates AI could threaten over 200,000 European banking jobs by 2030, with non-consumer roles most at risk.
- Risk and compliance roles and consumer-focused lenders in France and Germany face the biggest disruption.
Rapid Bromance Turned Fallout
- Edward Luce recounts the rapid rise and fall of the public friendship between Elon Musk and Donald Trump in 2024.
- Musk went from being feted in the Oval Office to publicly clashing over policy within months.
Public Role Imposed Business Costs
- Musk's public role in Washington hurt his companies through reputational backlash and sales declines in some markets.
- Shareholders and customers pressured him to refocus on Tesla and SpaceX to protect business value.