What started as one of the most influential partnerships in American politics and business has come crashing down. Elon Musk and President Donald Trump, once united by mutual admiration and ambition, are now locked in a bitter, very public feud—complete with insults, threats, and financial fallout.
🚀 From Bromance to Breakdown
In the early days of Trump’s 2024 re-election campaign, few supporters were louder—or more generous—than Elon Musk. The billionaire CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter) contributed a staggering $250 million to Trump’s war chest and helped galvanize a new tech-aligned conservative base.
Following Trump’s victory, Musk was appointed co-leader of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a newly formed office intended to “streamline federal waste” and modernize infrastructure with Silicon Valley flair. The pairing was hailed as a fusion of tech innovation and populist leadership.
They shared stages. They shared tweets. They shared visions of a “great American future.” But beneath the surface, their union was already cracking.
💸 The $2.4 Trillion Trigger
The rift exploded into the open in May 2025, when Musk publicly slammed Trump’s ambitious “One Big Beautiful Bill”—a $2.4 trillion legislative package that promised mass infrastructure upgrades, universal AI education, and rural high-speed internet. Musk called the bill a “fiscally irresponsible fantasy wrapped in campaign confetti.”
The criticism marked a turning point. Musk soon resigned from his DOGE leadership role, citing “irreconcilable visions for America’s future.” Sources close to the White House said Trump viewed the departure as a personal betrayal.
📱 Social Media Eruption
On June 5, things went nuclear. In a series of posts on X, Musk lashed out at Trump:
“He wouldn’t have won in 2024 without me. Fact. Now he’s spending trillions like Oprah handing out cars. This isn’t leadership—it’s delusion.”
Musk also took the gloves off regarding Trump’s past associations:
“Still waiting for the Epstein flight logs to be released. Wonder who’s scared.”
Trump, never one to back down, unleashed his own barrage on Truth Social:
“Elon Musk is a TOTAL FRAUD. He begged to be part of my government, and now he’s pretending he’s too good for it? Sad! I’m ordering a full review of all federal contracts with his companies.”
He added, “Just sold my Tesla. Buying a Ford. At least they make real cars.”
📉 Market and Political Fallout
The feud has had immediate ripple effects:
- Tesla stock dropped by 14%, erasing over $150 billion in market cap in just 48 hours.
- SpaceX and Neuralink contracts with the federal government are reportedly under review.
- Republican leaders are divided, with some defending Musk’s critique of overspending, while others rally behind Trump’s “America First” spending spree.
Political analyst Sarah Langford called the breakup “the ugliest divorce between power and innovation we’ve seen since Steve Jobs got ousted from Apple.”
🗣️ Calls for Truce—and Denials
Billionaire investor Bill Ackman has publicly urged the two to reconcile, tweeting:
“Musk and Trump together can shape the 21st century. Apart, they just tear it down.”
But Trump has flatly rejected any notion of peace talks:
“Not interested. Musk has lost his mind. We’re moving forward without him.”
Musk, for his part, posted a GIF of Tony Stark walking away from an explosion—captioned “Clean breaks are best.”
🧩 What’s Next?
The unraveling of the Musk-Trump relationship leaves major questions:
- Will Tesla and SpaceX lose critical government support?
- Could Musk endorse a third-party candidate—or run himself?
- What does this mean for Silicon Valley’s role in future administrations?
For now, all that’s certain is that the bromance is dead—and the breakup is costing more than just pride.
