In a week that already felt like a whirlwind in U.S. politics and tech, things took an unexpectedly dramatic turn when Elon Musk and Donald Trump—two of the most influential figures in America—publicly clashed in what’s become an all-out feud.
Their once-friendly alliance has now morphed into something that looks more like a political soap opera, complete with insults, accusations, and billion-dollar threats.
From Allies to Adversaries: What Sparked the Rift?
It all started when Musk pushed back against a Republican-led budget proposal—what Trump proudly calls the “big, beautiful bill.”
Musk didn’t hold back, criticizing the bill’s massive price tag and claiming it undid years of cost-cutting efforts spearheaded by his government efficiency group, DOGE.
Trump didn’t take that well. Instead of debating the bill, things got personal fast.
Musk hinted that Trump had connections to Jeffrey Epstein—an explosive accusation.
Trump, in turn, suggested deporting Musk and revoking his companies’ government contracts.
Musk Softens His Stance—Slightly
Despite the harsh rhetoric, Musk later seemed to backtrack—just a bit.
Responding to billionaire Bill Ackman, who urged the two men to reconcile for the good of the country, Musk replied: “You’re not wrong.” A short, subtle olive branch? Maybe.
That prompted the White House to step in, organizing a call between Trump and Musk in hopes of cooling things down before the infighting causes lasting damage to Trump’s MAGA base and the broader conservative movement.
Trump Plays It Cool—Sort Of
When asked about the escalating situation during a Politico interview, Trump brushed it off with a casual, “Oh, it’s okay,” then quickly pivoted to bragging about his poll numbers.
Behind the scenes, though, his administration was floating ideas that were far from chill—like stripping Musk of federal contracts, revoking SpaceX’s security clearances, or even seizing SpaceX under the Defense Production Act.
Bannon Fans the Flames
Enter Steve Bannon, Trump’s longtime advisor, who took the feud up a notch on his “War Room” show.
He argued the government should outright take over SpaceX using national security powers.
He also called Musk an “unstable individual” and claimed the tech mogul posed a national security risk, citing reports about Musk’s alleged drug use.
Bannon didn’t stop there. He pushed a wild theory that Musk—who’s been a U.S. citizen for more than 20 years—is in the country illegally and should be deported.
Musk Retreats—A Bit More
Amid the intense back-and-forth, Musk briefly threatened to shut down the Dragon capsule program, a critical piece of NASA’s operations.
But after a user on X told him to take a breather, Musk reconsidered: “Good advice. Ok, we won’t decommission Dragon,” he posted.
Still, the damage was done. Whether Trump will accept Musk’s subtle attempt to de-escalate remains unclear.
The Money Behind the Fallout
SpaceX has secured more than $17 billion in government contracts since 2015—mostly from NASA and the Department of Defense.
Tesla, meanwhile, has received about $1 billion in subsidies.
The growing tension between Trump and Musk threatens those lucrative relationships.
Their falling out also comes after Musk left Trump’s administration, where he had led DOGE—a government efficiency department that claimed to save tens of billions in federal spending.
Tensions Explode Over Spending and NASA Nominees
Musk’s break with Trump intensified after the president scrapped a nominee Musk supported to lead NASA—Jared Isaacman, a longtime Musk ally.
Trump said he didn’t want to appoint a Democrat, even if Isaacman was highly respected.
At the same time, Trump downplayed Musk’s help on the campaign trail, claiming he would’ve won Pennsylvania even without the billionaire’s support—despite Musk having poured nearly $300 million into Trump’s 2024 campaign and appearing alongside him after the Butler shooting.
Musk Claps Back
Musk didn’t take the slight quietly. He posted that without his involvement, Trump would’ve lost the election and that Republicans would have had less power in the Senate.
“Oh, and some food for thought,” Musk added in a jab at Trump’s age.
“Trump has 3.5 years left as President, but I will be around for 40+ years.”
The President Keeps Swinging
Back in the Oval Office after a meeting with Germany’s new Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump kept the hits coming—both in interviews and online.
He claimed he asked Musk to leave the administration and accused him of going “CRAZY!” after losing government support for EV mandates.
Though Musk accused Trump of Epstein ties, the former president brushed it off on Truth Social, refocusing on promoting his budget bill, calling it “one of the Greatest Bills ever presented to Congress.”
The White House Shrugs It Off
In an official comment, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt minimized the clash:
“This is an unfortunate episode from Elon, who is unhappy with the One Big Beautiful Bill because it does not include the policies he wanted.”
Her message was clear—Trump’s staying the course: “The President is focused on passing this historic piece of legislation and making our country great again.”
What Comes Next?
With a potential phone call looming between Trump and Musk, all eyes are on whether the two titans will patch things up—or whether this high-profile feud will continue to shake up the political landscape.
Whatever happens, the saga reminds us that when tech meets politics, the fallout can be as dramatic—and personal—as any reality show.