The situation has all the elements that the president seeks: a showdown with a top political rival in a deep blue state over an issue core to his agenda.

US President Donald Trump said he would deploy 2,000 National Guard troops to California following clashes in Los Angeles between federal agents and protesters demonstrating against raids on suspected illegal immigrants.

For all the insults that Mr. Musk and Mr. Trump traded on Thursday, don’t be surprised if they make up again days from now. In the meantime, they both benefit.

Top Republicans have brushed aside concerns that Donald Trump’s landmark tax bill risks being derailed by his extraordinary clash with Elon Musk as the party closes ranks around the US president. The two men fell out in dramatic fashion on Thursday after a spat triggered by disagreements over the president’s “big beautiful bill” erupted into an all out feud that some feared could scupper the legislation.

Steve Bannon has stoked the tension between Donald Trump and Elon Musk. The feud began when Musk pushed lawmakers to reject the president’s tax bill.