Truman, Dogs, and Washington Friendships
There’s a common saying attributed to President Harry S. Truman: “If you want a friend in Washington, have a dog.” But interestingly, he never actually said that. Truman did receive a dog named Feller once, though his wife, Beth, was not keen on bringing it into the White House, so it ended up with his doctor instead.
In many parts of the world, the notion that politicians have few genuine friends is pretty popular. This idea paints the friendships in Washington as fleeting and unreliable. The recent fallout between Elon Musk and President Trump serves as a perfect example of this stereotype. Musk had once referred to Trump as his “first buddy,” but things took a dramatic turn, making it seem less like a friendly split and more like an epic showdown.
Musk has apparently cut ties, but perhaps that realization came a bit late. Recently, he criticized the One Big Beautiful Bill, which he claims won’t actually reduce the deficit—in fact, it’s predicted to increase it by $2.5 trillion over the next decade. Musk has adopted a new rallying cry: “kill the bill.” He’s even suggested forming a new independent party, hinting at Trump’s questionable connections, including a mention of the files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
In the midst of this, Trump did not hold back on social media, threatening to revoke Musk’s favorable government contracts related to space initiatives and suggesting that Musk’s woes stemmed from losing government support for electric vehicles like Tesla.
This sparks an intriguing discussion about the absence of real friendship and loyalty in Washington. It appears that Musk and Trump’s fiery exchange highlights how rare genuine connections are, especially among powerful and competitive individuals. Loyalty seems to fade in an environment where success is the primary goal. Think back to the numerous former officials from Trump’s first term—names like Michael Flynn and Rex Tillerson come to mind—who faced quick exits under pressure.
On the flip side, we can look at former President Biden’s circle. His former press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, recently hinted at her departure from party lines in her book about the White House, speaking to a similar sense of disillusionment. It raises questions about loyalty and whether it really has more to do with political survival than true friendship.
This isn’t exclusive to any one party or administration; there are always disenchanted individuals who have left or been let go. Often, their commitment lies more with the Constitution than with any leader. This is particularly visible at the highest levels of power where ambitions clash most intensely.
Meanwhile, in Congress, the turnover is just as notable. After election losses or retirement, many former staffers continue their careers elsewhere, often expanding their networks into lobbying, think tanks, or academia.
In a world where media figures and authors of sensational books have brief moments of fame, those seeking to benefit from their positions often find those opportunities dwindling quickly.
But what does this all really have to do with the feud between Musk and Trump? Not much, honestly. They appear to be heading in opposite directions, with their past connections fading away. For the average person, there’s not much to relate to or care about in this dramatic split.
Interestingly, Trump is noted as the president who didn’t own a dog while in office. According to an article from Newsweek, even his first ex-wife, Ivana, claimed that he wasn’t fond of dogs, stating, “Donald was not a fan of dogs.” The same sentiment seems to have been mutual.
Don Wolfensberger, who spent nearly three decades in congressional staff roles, highlighted these dynamics. He authored works that explore the cultural and political changes within Congress over the years.
