Once political allies with mutual interests, Donald Trump and Elon Musk are now locked in a very public and increasingly bitter feud. During a bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump was asked about Musk's recent criticisms of a proposed bill. “I'd rather have him criticize me than the bill,” Trump said, expressing disappointment in the man who was once his biggest financial backer.
Despite once claiming a strong relationship, Trump now questions whether that alliance still holds. The clash quickly escalated into a personal conflict. Musk, via his X platform, posted direct responses to Trump, while Trump fired back through his own Truth Social.
Tensions exploded when Musk endorsed a post calling for Trump’s removal from office and accused him of covering up connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Musk claimed the Epstein files remain sealed to protect Trump, though he provided no evidence of privileged access.
The White House intervened shortly after. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt labeled Musk’s accusations “unfortunate,” suggesting the root of the issue was Musk’s dissatisfaction with provisions in the bill that affect his company Tesla.
Trump then proposed cutting off government subsidies and contracts to Musk, suggesting real savings could be made there. In response, Musk cryptically threatened to scale back a major space project, hinting at possible withdrawal from NASA-related ventures. This feud could jeopardize not only Tesla, but also SpaceX, X, Neuralink, and xAI.
Their alliance had previously peaked during the 2024 presidential campaign, when Musk donated $288 million to Trump and GOP candidates. Post-election, Trump appointed Musk to lead a new federal department focused on government efficiency (DOGE), from which Musk publicly resigned in May.
This conflict isn’t just personal—it’s political, economic, and symbolic. Two of the world's most influential men are at odds, and their fallout could ripple across industries and institutions. Who will emerge victorious remains uncertain.