By John Figliozzi

For Sunday Opinion

If one subscribes to the skeptical notion that most — despite virtuous declarations to the contrary — act first in their own self-interest, it’s easy to discern true motives and objectives.

With the second Trump Administration, there’s no mystery.

Three key self-interests are at work – Donald Trump’s, Elon Musk’s and those of Project 2025.

TRUMP

While individually their objectives are not inherently compatible – which may determine how long this alliance persists – there appears among them agreement to at least not get in each other’s way.

Mr. Trump has been open about his.

He wants retribution for the electoral and legal harms to which he claims he’s been unfairly subjected.

He also wants his imperial propensities satisfied.

Hence, his errant conflation of loyalty to him with loyalty to our nation and its Constitution that has had and will have further legal, financial, political and social ramifications for us.

MUSK

For his part, the half-trillionaire Musk wants complete freedom from government oversight for his financial and business interests.

To this end, he bought and redirected toward his personal ambitions the social platform Twitter and........

© The Leader Herald