Musk Calls Vance ‘Future President’ Amid Free Speech Clash and Ukraine Drama

It started Thursday in the Oval Office. Keir Starmer, the UK’s new Labour leader, sat across from Donald Trump and Vance. The topic: free speech. Vance, leaning into his role as America’s tech cop, jabbed at British policies he claims throttle American companies. “What you do affects us,” he said, as if explaining WiFi to a caveman. Starmer shrugged. “We’ve had free speech forever,” he replied, sounding like a librarian refusing to raise his voice.

Musk, watching from his phone, cheered Vance like a kid at a demolition derby. “Best VP ever and our future President,” he posted. The two share a love for scrapping with Europe and a distaste for funding Ukraine. Musk’s endorsement landed hours after Vance tore into Ukrainian President Zelensky during another White House meeting. Vance accused Zelensky of running “propaganda tours” to milk sympathy. Trump reportedly cut the meeting short, telling Zelensky to come back “when you’re ready to pursue peace.” Musk piled on later, claiming Zelensky had “destroyed himself” in U.S. eyes—a bold take from a man who once sold flamethrowers online.

Vance, 40, isn’t just young for a VP—he’s a shapeshifter. He once called Trump “cultural heroin” and mocked his 2016 campaign. Now, he’s Trump’s shadow, whispering in ears and snapping at foreign leaders. The shift began in 2022, when Trump backed Vance’s Senate race in Ohio, turning a critic into a loyalist.

Musk, meanwhile, runs the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—a Trump-era project to “fix” bureaucracy. His job: slash spending, trim fat, maybe rename a post office. But he’s better at stirring drama than balancing budgets. His Vance praise isn’t new. Weeks ago, he called him “the best VP ever.” It’s either a prediction or a threat.