The once-formidable alliance between President Donald J. Trump and billionaire Elon Musk has disintegrated into a high-profile feud, marked by sharp exchanges over social media and significant implications for both U.S. politics and global markets.
Sparked by Musk’s criticism of Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill, dubbed the “big, beautiful bill,” the dispute has escalated with Trump threatening to cut Musk’s government contracts and Musk alleging, without evidence, Trump’s involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein files. This public fallout, unfolding across Truth Social and X, has sent shockwaves through the Republican Party and financial markets, raising questions about the future of their influence and the passage of Trump’s legislative agenda.
The feud erupted into public view on June 5, 2025, during a White House meeting with Germany’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, when Trump expressed disappointment over Musk’s attacks on his domestic policy bill, which includes tax cuts and immigration reforms projected to add $2.4 trillion to the national debt over a decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The clash, which intensified after Musk’s departure from his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on May 29, 2025, has transformed a policy disagreement into a personal and political spectacle, with both men leveraging their platforms to hurl insults and threats.
The Rise and Fall of a Political Power Duo
The Trump-Musk partnership was a cornerstone of Trump’s 2024 campaign and early second term, which began on January 20, 2025. Musk, the world’s richest man, invested nearly $300 million in Trump’s reelection and other Republican candidates, becoming the top GOP donor. Appointed to lead DOGE, Musk spearheaded aggressive cuts to federal spending, slashing thousands of government jobs and nearly dismantling agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Their bond was publicly celebrated, with Trump praising Musk as “one of our great brains” at a 2020 SpaceX launch and showcasing a red Tesla Model S on the White House lawn in March 2025 to support Musk amid backlash over his far-right political stances.
Tensions surfaced as Musk’s 130-day tenure at DOGE ended. His departure, announced on May 29, 2025, was initially amicable, with Trump presenting him a ceremonial golden key to the White House. However, Musk’s subsequent criticism of Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” as a “disgusting abomination” that would balloon the $36.2 trillion national debt marked a turning point. Trump, who had initially avoided direct confrontation, responded on June 5, suggesting Musk’s opposition stemmed from the bill’s elimination of electric vehicle tax credits, a blow to Tesla’s interests. Musk denied this, insisting his concern was fiscal responsibility.
The Latest on the Trump-Musk Feud
The feud reached a boiling point on June 5, 2025, when Trump, speaking in the Oval Office, expressed being “very disappointed” in Musk, claiming he “knew the inner workings of this bill better than almost anybody.” Musk fired back on X, asserting that the bill was “never shown to me even once” and accusing Trump of lying. The exchange escalated as Trump threatened to terminate Musk’s government contracts, including those with SpaceX, which has secured $3.8 billion in federal contracts in 2024 alone. Musk retaliated by briefly announcing plans to decommission SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, critical to NASA’s International Space Station operations, before retracting the threat after public backlash.
The most explosive moment came when Musk, without evidence, claimed Trump’s name appeared in unreleased Jeffrey Epstein files, a provocative accusation that intensified calls from far-right influencers for their release. Trump’s team dismissed the claim as “an unfortunate episode,” noting that existing Epstein files mentioning Trump, such as 2021 flight logs from Ghislaine Maxwell’s trial, do not implicate him in wrongdoing. Musk’s endorsement of a post calling for Trump’s impeachment and replacement by Vice President JD Vance further inflamed the situation, though impeachment is unlikely given GOP control of Congress.
Economic and Political Fallout
The feud’s impact was immediate and severe. Tesla’s stock plummeted 14.3% on June 5, 2025, erasing approximately $150 billion in market value, while Trump Media and Technology Group fell 8%, reflecting investor unease. The financial hit underscored the stakes for Musk, whose companies rely on billions in government contracts and subsidies. SpaceX, a key NASA contractor, and Starlink, used by the Pentagon, face potential risks if Trump follows through on his threats, though analysts question the feasibility given SpaceX’s critical role in U.S. space programs.
Politically, the feud has divided Republicans. House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized Musk for his “180” on the bill, while fiscal hawks like Representative Thomas Massie, who opposed the legislation, expressed support for Musk’s deficit concerns. Representative Troy Nehls demanded Musk apologize, calling his attacks “irresponsible,” while Steve Bannon, a former Trump adviser, urged investigations into Musk’s immigration status and ties to China. House Democrats, seizing on Musk’s Epstein claim, renewed calls for the release of related files, with Representative Dan Goldman accusing Attorney General Pam Bondi of concealing them to protect Trump.
Media Frenzy and Public Reaction
The media has covered the feud with relentless intensity. The New York Post dubbed it the end of the “Trump-Elon bromance,” while The Guardian likened it to “Alien v Predator” for its spectacle. CNN and NBC provided live updates, with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins noting Representative Tim Burchett’s support for Trump as commander-in-chief. Fox News reported Trump calling Musk “the man who has lost his mind,” a sentiment echoed in interviews with ABC and CNN. On X, reactions ranged from amusement to alarm, with users like
@siddharthaAZ comparing the spat to a “divorce between two gay dads,” while others debated its impact on GOP unity. Late-night hosts, including Stephen Colbert, mocked the feud as a “full-scale flame war” between former allies.
A Clash of Egos or Policy Divide?
At its core, the feud reflects both personal and ideological tensions. Trump and Musk, described by The Guardian’s Jamie Raskin as having “gargantuan egos,” were perhaps inevitable adversaries. Their shared penchant for social media combat—Trump on Truth Social, Musk on X—has turned a policy dispute into a public circus. Musk’s fiscal conservatism, honed during his DOGE tenure, clashes with Trump’s willingness to increase deficits for tax cuts, exposing GOP fault lines. Yet, as NPR noted, the feud also serves as a “popularity contest,” with both men thriving on attention.
The White House, through press secretary Karoline Leavitt, framed Musk’s attacks as frustration over the bill’s exclusion of his preferred policies, emphasizing Trump’s focus on passing the legislation. Musk’s claim that he was instrumental in Trump’s 2024 victory—potentially preventing Democratic control of Congress—adds a personal edge, with Trump dismissing him as having “Trump derangement syndrome.” The feud’s personal turn, particularly Musk’s Epstein allegation, has made reconciliation challenging, though some allies, like investor Bill Ackman, have urged de-escalation.
Prospects for Resolution
By June 6, 2025, signs of détente emerged but remained tentative. Trump told ABC News he was “not particularly” interested in speaking with Musk, who he claimed “wants to talk to me.” A White House official confirmed no call was planned, contradicting earlier reports of a scheduled conversation. Musk, responding to a user on X, clarified that he criticized Congress, not Trump directly, suggesting a possible softening of his stance. Posts on X indicated conciliatory tones late on June 5, with Trump focusing on his legislative agenda and Musk retracting his Dragon spacecraft threat.
The red Tesla Model S, still parked on the White House lawn as of June 6, symbolizes the now-fractured alliance. Trump’s suggestion to sell or give it away reflects the depth of the rift. Whether the feud derails the “big, beautiful bill” in the Senate, where it faces steep odds, remains uncertain. The Guardian’s comparison to a playground fight suggests both men may benefit from letting tensions cool, but their history of public spats makes a swift resolution unlikely.
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