The relationship between the two most powerful men in the US – now going through a very nasty, very public, breakup – led to some very consequential changes that could have a deep and lasting impact.

When Donald Trump met privately with White House officials on Wednesday, there was little to suggest that the U.S. president was close to a public break with Elon Musk, the billionaire businessman who helped him win a second term in office.

Since the election, Elon Musk had largely appeared inseparable from the president, helping to reshape government and root out fiscal waste.