Trump and Musk's High-Profile Alliance Implodes in Public Feud
Once hailed as an extraordinary partnership between the world’s richest man and the most powerful, the alliance between U.S. President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk came to a dramatic and public end Thursday.
In a fiery Oval Office address, President Trump expressed “deep disappointment” with Musk, following the billionaire’s sharp criticism of a major tax-and-spending bill under debate in Congress. Trump went further, threatening to revoke Musk’s multi-billion-dollar government contracts.
Musk, never one to back down, responded swiftly and publicly. Speaking live on air and posting on his social media platform X, he accused Trump of “ingratitude,” claiming the president would not have won re-election in 2024 without his financial backing. Musk, who contributed an estimated $300 billion to Trump’s campaign, wrote:
“Without me, Trump would have lost. Such ingratitude.”
As tensions escalated, Musk made an explosive allegation, posting that Trump “is in the Epstein files”—a reference to U.S. government documents related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Markets reacted swiftly. Tesla shares plunged 15%, wiping over $100 billion from the company's valuation amid investor uncertainty and political fallout.
From Bromance to Breakdown
The unraveling of the Trump-Musk relationship came less than a week after a ceremonial farewell for Musk at the White House. Musk had recently stepped down as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a role in which his cost-cutting initiatives had sparked controversy but earned Trump’s praise.
At a press event Thursday, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz by his side, Trump lamented the split:
“I’m very disappointed in Elon. I’ve helped Elon a lot. We had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore.”
He accused Musk of suffering from “Trump derangement system” and suggested the billionaire had grown hostile after leaving his White House post.
Musk, for his part, doubled down—criticizing the administration’s fiscal policies and even polling his followers on whether he should form a new political party. Though ineligible to run for president himself due to his South African birth, Musk’s influence within the Republican base remains significant.
Political and Financial Stakes
The feud quickly moved from rhetoric to real-world consequences. Trump used his Truth Social account to float the idea of cutting Musk’s lucrative federal contracts—reportedly worth $18 billion—covering everything from rocket launches to satellite services.
“The easiest way to save billions in our budget,” Trump wrote, “is to terminate Elon’s government subsidies and contracts.”
The move marks a stunning reversal. Trump’s appointment of Musk to DOGE had been one of the boldest decisions of his second term. Musk’s tenure saw sweeping layoffs and deep cuts to foreign aid, executed by a cadre of youthful “tech bros” and fiercely defended by Trump’s inner circle.
Yet the friction had been building. Sources close to Musk reported growing frustration with Washington’s bureaucracy and frequent clashes with senior cabinet members.
As the political and financial dust settles, one unintended winner may have been Germany’s Chancellor Merz, who sat silently through Trump’s tirade. Having braced for a confrontation, he instead watched Trump’s ire redirected entirely at Musk.
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