Red hats with white stitching have become synonymous with one person in recent years: Donald Trump.
His ‘Make America Great Again’ caps are donned proudly by supporters and even former advisors – Elon Musk wore a customised version, reading ‘Trump Was Right About Everything!’ earlier this year.
At a rally during Trump’s campaign, Musk even joked: ‘I’m not just MAGA, I’m dark MAGA.’
The remarks were likely tied to his increasingly dark attire, including an all black version of the MAGA hat.
But some have connected this to a fringe conspiracy theory about a government takeover involving tech bosses – and his public fallout with Trump has fanned the flames.
What is ‘Dark MAGA’?
The term dark MAGA comes from a theory known as ‘dark enlightenment’.
The theory is believed to come from Curtis Yarvin, 51, a computer coder who claims tech bosses will overthrow the government and install a CEO to run things.
Seems outlandish, right?
Not for everyone. The theory has gained traction in recent years as Trump cosies up to tech bosses – Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg were all at his inauguration, by personal invitation.
And the theory is fringe – but parts of it are eerily ‘coming true’. It mentions mass firings of federal employees, fear tactics to distract the masses and elections deemed ‘obsolete’.
Washington institutions have reportedly been briefed about ‘Dark Enlightenment’, or ‘Dark MAGA’, as it’s become known.
What’s happened between Trump and Musk?
The first major cracks in their relationship showed at the end of last month on what turned out to be Musk’s last day in the White House.
The Tesla CEO had become bolder in expressing his dissent over Trump’s budget and tax cut bill, currently making its way through Congress.
Asked about Musk’s disapproval of his ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’, the US president told reporters: ‘Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will ever again.’
Musk responded, lashing out further overnight, branding it a ‘disgusting abomination’ that will explode federal budget deficits.
‘Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it,’ he wrote on X.
The criticism quickly escalated into an all-out brawl between the pair, each on their own social media sites, Truth Social and X, or in press conferences.
But it was Musk’s tweet – linking Trump with the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein – that has caused the most controversy.
He alleged that the Republican leader is featured in the secret government files on rich and powerful former associates of the sex offender, reigniting long-running conspiracy theories.
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