The honeymoon period between President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk appears to be over, with Trump publicly declaring their once-close relationship has ended following an explosive social media feud that has rocked the political establishment.
The dramatic fallout reached its climax when Trump, in a Saturday interview with NBC News, confirmed what many political observers had suspected after witnessing weeks of escalating tensions between the former allies.
“I would assume so, yeah,” Trump responded when asked if he thought their close relationship had ended. When pressed about whether he wished to mend the damaged ties, the president was equally blunt: “No.”
The declaration marks a stunning reversal for two men whose partnership was once seen as a powerful alliance between political and technological influence. Musk, the world’s richest man, had donated roughly $250 million to Trump’s presidential campaign and subsequently became a White House aide, heading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The relationship began deteriorating over Trump’s signature domestic policy legislation, dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill,” which Musk had been criticising for weeks as it moved through Congress. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO argued that the tax and spending bill would add trillions of dollars to the national deficit and “undermine” his work at DOGE, which focused on cutting government spending.
Initially, Musk’s criticism remained focused on policy rather than personal attacks. After leaving his DOGE position following 129 days in the job, he posted on his social media platform X that the bill was a “disgusting abomination” – but notably avoided directly criticising Trump.
However, the conflict escalated dramatically on Thursday when Trump expressed his displeasure with his former ally’s behaviour, telling reporters he was “disappointed” with Musk’s actions.
Musk’s response marked the point of no return in their relationship. The tech mogul unleashed a series of posts on X, making the extraordinary claim that Trump would have lost the election without his support and levelling serious accusations against the president, including allegations of being implicated in files connected to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier who died in jail while awaiting sex trafficking charges.
The Epstein accusation proved to be a bridge too far. Musk has since deleted the post, and Epstein’s lawyer has publicly denied the accusations, but the damage to the Trump-Musk relationship appeared irreversible.
Trump’s retaliation was swift and fierce. Responding on his Truth Social platform, the president said Musk had gone “crazy” and, in a particularly pointed threat, suggested he might cut Musk’s lucrative federal government contracts.
The president’s latest comments to NBC News revealed the depth of his anger over the public dispute. “I think it’s a very bad thing, because he’s very disrespectful. You could not disrespect the office of the president,” Trump said, stating that Musk had been “disrespectful to the office of the president.”
The political ramifications of the feud extend beyond personal animosity. Musk has suggested he might throw his considerable financial weight behind Trump’s opponents in next year’s midterm elections, specifically targeting lawmakers who supported the president’s tax bill with primary challengers.
When asked about the prospect of Musk backing Democratic candidates against Republicans, Trump warned that such action would bring “serious consequences” for the billionaire.
The broader Republican establishment has largely rallied around Trump in the dispute. Vice President JD Vance delivered particularly harsh criticism of Musk during an appearance on podcaster Theo Von’s show, saying the tech mogul had “gone so nuclear” and suggesting he may never be welcomed back into the Republican fold.
“It was a big mistake for the Tesla and SpaceX CEO to attack the president,” Vance stated, reflecting the sentiment among a majority of Republicans who have fallen in line behind Trump.
The collapse of the Trump-Musk alliance represents a significant shift in American political dynamics. What began as a mutually beneficial relationship, with Trump gaining technological credibility and massive financial support while Musk secured political influence and government contracts, has devolved into a bitter public feud that threatens to reshape both men’s political futures.
For Trump, the loss of Musk’s support removes a key ally who brought both financial resources and appeal to younger, tech-savvy voters. For Musk, the break with Trump potentially jeopardises his companies’ substantial government contracts and his influence within conservative political circles.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump announced Monday that he will keep the Tesla he bought from Elon Musk at full price, despite their recent dispute. The vehicle was originally purchased as a symbolic gesture to promote American Tesla sales during their cordial relationship. Following reports that Trump might sell or donate the White House Tesla after his conflict with Musk, the president clarified he may relocate the car but will not sell it.
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