Egypt Daily News – The once-amicable relationship between former U.S. President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk has rapidly deteriorated into a high-profile and increasingly hostile public dispute. What began as policy disagreements has now evolved into personal attacks, stark accusations, and economic ripple effects impacting markets and public discourse alike.
A Breakdown in Relations
Tensions became apparent after Trump expressed “deep disappointment” in Musk, who had recently resigned from his senior advisory role at the White House. In a press briefing at the Oval Office, Trump remarked, “Elon and I had a great relationship. I’m not sure if that will continue.”
This sentiment followed Musk’s sharp criticism of Trump’s comprehensive tax and spending package—referred to by Trump as the “big, beautiful bill”—which was passed by the House and awaits an uncertain path in the Senate. Musk described the legislation as “disgusting and grotesque,” despite having reportedly been closely involved in earlier discussions surrounding it.
“Elon knew this bill better than almost anyone,” Trump stated. “He had no issue with it until the moment he walked out the door.”
Musk Strikes Back
In response, Musk made a bold claim on X (formerly Twitter), asserting that his support had been crucial to Trump’s 2024 election success. “Without my support,” Musk wrote, “Trump would have lost the election, Democrats would control the House, and Republicans would have only 49 Senate seats instead of 51.”
Trump, however, dismissed the notion. “I would have won Pennsylvania regardless of Elon,” he said, doubling down on his disappointment: “I’ve helped Elon a lot, and I feel very let down.”
Musk’s financial support during the 2024 elections totaled over $290 million, making him one of the top individual contributors to Republican causes.
Market Fallout
The fallout from their public spat had immediate economic consequences. Tesla’s stock dropped nearly 9% on Thursday, wiping out approximately $90 billion in market value. Investors grew wary as Musk’s once-advantageous ties to Trump began to look like a liability, especially for Tesla’s brand among more liberal or moderate consumers.
Initially buoyed by the election results, Tesla shares surged. However, the company has since faced declining sales and reputational damage tied to Musk’s political entanglements.
From Disappointment to Accusations
The feud took a darker turn when Musk endorsed a post on X calling for Trump’s impeachment, citing economic concerns tied to the president’s tariff proposals. Musk warned that the measures could push the U.S. economy into recession in the latter half of the year.
Trump escalated further by revealing he had asked Musk to step down from his government advisory post. Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump called Musk “crazy” and suggested canceling all federal contracts with companies linked to him. “The easiest way to save billions in the budget is to stop giving government contracts and subsidies to Elon,” Trump said.
In another post, Trump accused Musk of “going nuts” after losing his electric vehicle mandate authority, which had previously pushed for EV adoption. “Nobody wanted those cars anyway,” Trump added, claiming Musk knew months in advance the revocation was coming.
Explosive Allegations
In a particularly controversial post, Musk dropped what he called the “big bomb,” insinuating that Trump appeared in sealed files related to the late Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier accused of sex trafficking. “That’s why they haven’t been released yet. Have a nice day, Donald,” Musk wrote, followed by a separate post repeating the claim. These unverified allegations marked a dramatic and deeply personal escalation in their feud.
Policy Clashes and Broader Implications
Amidst the chaos, Musk’s opposition to Trump’s spending bill has turned into a public crusade. He urged Americans to contact their congressional representatives to vote down the legislation, describing it as wasteful and irresponsible. “America going bankrupt is unacceptable… Kill the bill,” Musk wrote on X.
This placed Musk in direct opposition to Trump’s efforts to rally conservative lawmakers behind the package, which is considered a cornerstone of his economic agenda. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant defended the bill as essential to long-term growth, arguing that it would boost productivity, raise wages, and increase GDP by 3%—all without raising taxes.
However, a recent report by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that the House-passed version of the bill would add $2.4 trillion to the federal deficit over the next decade.
A Political and Personal Fallout
What was once a strategic alliance between two powerful figures in American business and politics has unraveled into a highly public and deeply personal dispute. From economic policy and campaign support to unverified accusations and corporate repercussions, the Trump-Musk feud underscores the volatility of political-business relationships in the modern era.
Whether this rivalry will have lasting implications on the 2028 election cycle, corporate governance, or public trust in leadership remains to be seen. But for now, it is clear that the war of words between Donald Trump and Elon Musk has only just begun.
