Washington, D.C., June 5, 2025 — A once-strong alliance between U.S. President Donald Trump and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has deteriorated into a bitter public feud, marked by heated social media exchanges, personal insults, and threats to business interests. The rift, which erupted over disagreements regarding Trump’s economic bill and its cuts to clean energy incentives, has escalated rapidly, drawing widespread attention and sparking debate about its political and economic implications.
The tension began brewing earlier this week when Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, publicly criticized Trump’s proposed budget bill, dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill.” On June 3, Musk took to X, the social media platform he owns, to denounce the legislation, writing, “I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.”
The bill, a cornerstone of Trump’s legislative agenda, includes significant reductions to clean energy incentives, a move Musk argued undermines American industry and environmental progress. Trump, speaking from the Oval Office on June 5 during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, expressed disappointment in Musk, a former ally and key supporter during the 2024 election cycle. “I’m very disappointed because Elon knew the inner workings of this bill better than almost anybody sitting here,” Trump told reporters. He went further, accusing Musk of ingratitude despite the billionaire’s substantial financial support—over $250 million through his America PAC—for Trump’s campaign. Trump later posted on Truth Social, “Elon was ‘wearing thin,’ I asked him to leave, I took away his EV Mandate that forced everyone to buy Electric Cars that nobody else wanted (that he knew for months I was going to do!), and he just went CRAZY!” Musk fired back on X, escalating the feud to a deeply personal level. In a series of posts, he claimed, “Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate.”
In a particularly explosive allegation, Musk wrote, “Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!” This claim, made without evidence, refers to unreleased government files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The White House has not responded to this accusation, though U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi, appointed by Trump, released an initial phase of Epstein-related documents on February 27, 2025, according to the Department of Justice. The feud took a financial turn when Trump threatened to sever government contracts and subsidies for Musk’s companies, including SpaceX and Starlink. “The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts,” Trump posted on Truth Social. The Washington Post estimates SpaceX benefits from approximately $22 billion in federal spending, though exact figures for many contracts remain classified.
Tesla, meanwhile, has historically gained from $11.4 billion in regulatory credits for electric vehicle purchases, a sum that includes state-level subsidies. Musk responded defiantly on X, stating, “In light of the President’s statement about cancellation of my government contracts, @SpaceX will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately.” The public spat has rattled investors, with Tesla shares closing down 14% on June 5, wiping out roughly $150 billion in market value, according to Reuters. Analysts worry the feud could harm Musk’s businesses and complicate Trump’s legislative goals, especially as Republicans aim to maintain control of Congress in the 2026 midterms.
The once “bromance for the ages” between two of the world’s most powerful figures—evident in joint appearances, such as a May 30, 2025, press conference in the Oval Office—has crumbled swiftly, leaving observers to question the fallout. Social media reactions have been intense, with users on X and other platforms weighing in. Some mocked the drama, with one post noting, “Such beauty in life,” attributed to Musk’s estranged daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, on Threads. Others speculate Musk may consider launching a new political party, though no concrete plans have emerged. As the feud continues, all eyes are on how Trump and Musk navigate this high-stakes clash of egos and interests.
Sources: The Guardian, Reuters, NBC News, The Independent, Times of India, The New York Times, USA TODAY, TheWrap
