Elon Musk and Donald Trump - Is the honeymoon over already? Body language changes raise eyebrows

Elon Musk, the world's richest man, backed Donald Trump for US presidency online and on the ground. In return, he is being offered to run an agency of his own design to cut government spending. But it appears all is not well between the X owner and the incoming American president.

Eyebrows are being raised about the changed body language of the duo when Trump attended a launch event of SpaceX, owned by Musk, on Tuesday (Nov 19) in Texas.

Watch: Trump, Musk Solidify Bond With Texas Trip
 

Multiple media reports are speculating that the cause could be Musk's assertive and mercurial personality, and his claiming of credit for Trump's shock victory against Democrat Kamala Harris in the November 5 election.

The apparent coldness - or even anxiety- of Trump at the Tuesday SpaceX event comes amid Musk's reported arguments with other members of the Trump transition team.

Earlier, US media reports said that there was an argument at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida between Musk and Boris Epshteyn, a member of the Trump legal team.

Musk reportedly complained that Epshteyn was pushing people who were not qualified for jobs in the incoming Trump administration.

Also read: Is Trump's inner circle cracking? Musk and Trump's legal adviser had a blow-up, report suggests

It is also possible that Musk will differ on the issues of visas and migration with incoming deputy chief of policy, Stephen Miller, who is hawkish on immigration.

Miller was seen as the architect of the 'Muslim ban' in the first Trump administration.

NBC News reported citing sources that Musk was behaving like 'a co-president' and making Trump 'feel indebted' to him. That's not going to go down well with the Republican.

Body language expert breaks down lack of warmth between Trump and Musk

A report in the UK paper The Telegraph even employed a body language expert to examine the changed attitude of Trump towards Musk.

The expert, Darren Stanton, said Trump looked like a 'fish out of water' at the SpaceX event.

Also read: 'Elon won't go home, can't get rid of him,' Trump says after billionaire's constant presence at his home

Trump 'kept his arms hanging limply at his side: an act of anxiety and awkwardness,' the paper cited Stanton, who found Trump to be "very uneasy… usually he comes over as this alpha male, the most empowered, most powerful person in the room."

"I think he’s quite intimidated by Musk...He was out of his depth – his hands were just by his side like a mannequin.”

The report said Trump's 'power gestures' characteristic of his alpha male persona were missing.

As Musk gestured across to Starship of SpaceX, the largest rocket ever built, Trump "buttoned up his jacket before checking each of his pockets", according to Stanton who suggested he was 'a little intimidated'.

Stanton claimed that the only other person Trump is similarly submissive to is Russian President Vladimir Putin.

(With inputs from agencies)