If there’s ever been a reporter with more access to Donald Trump at any time in his life than Maggie Haberman, I don’t know who could make the claim. The New York Times columnist has been much more than simply “along for the ride” with Trump since the very early days of his first real presidential campaign.

Now she’s revealed something that has only been rumored about by others so far: Elon Musk is wearing out his welcome as Trump’s “First Buddy.”

Trump and Musk, of course, have been close since the social media and tech giant began pouring millions into his 2024 presidential campaign. Musk had been a supporter of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr’s bid, but when Kennedy dropped out and endorsed Trump, Musk did likewise, and he hasn’t looked back.

But Musk put SO much money into Trump’s campaign — a reported $250 million — that now he feels like they’re brothers from another mother. He has acted like they’re inseparable, even as Trump has shouldered his way forward to make sure the cameras are centered on him.

Haberman went on the podcast “On With Kara Swisher” on Monday, and she dished on the relationship: “Trump does complain a bit to people about how Musk is around a lot.” But that was far from all she had to say.

Musk has been a major donor to Trump this campaign cycle and he’s sort of tied into various areas around Trump which makes things more complicated. Musk seems more willing to irritate Trump than a lot of other people have been and less concerned about what it might mean. It’s a fraught relationship and has potential for becoming even more so.

It’s that middle part that must have struck Maggie the most. We’ve all seen — Maggie firsthand — that Trump relies almost exclusively on the fear he lords over people. Anyone, anywhere knows that they can be castigated and/or fired at the drop of a hat, even for things they didn’t do.

Musk is acting like the money he’s given to Trump makes him invulnerable to Trump’s authority, and that is absolutely certain to be vexing to Trump. It’s the only thing he has. He’s not smarter than anyone. He’s not better looking. He’s nowhere near the richest man in the world, or even the US. Hell, he’s not the richest guy in Palm Beach, Florida.

So that’s why he’s pursued the presidency with the soul of love. All he has is how important he is.

When Haberman’s host asked her how the Demander-in-Chief felt about the whole “President Musk” thing, she said it “definitely bothers him.” She said, “Trump’s not a wind-up toy but there certainly are very specific things that can zotz him.” Apparently, that is one.

Maggie doesn’t think it will last forever. In fact, once Trump’s in the actual White House, she reckons Musk will be relegated to a far smaller role — not necessarily given free rein to, say, walk the halls of the White House or anything. She definitely doesn’t think he’s going to have an office in the West Wing.

“Trump keeps people around for a long time if they are of use to him and he almost never totally closes the door to somebody,” even if they’re not rich. But, “Musk comes with something that ‘President Bannon’ did not, which is a lot of money, and I think that buys him a lot of time.”

We’ll see just how much time it buys him.