Once political allies and high-profile partners in Washington, Elon Musk and Donald Trump now find themselves on opposite sides of a very public (and messy) fallout.
But just when everyone thought the tech billionaire had fully distanced himself from Trump’s orbit, Musk made a surprising move: he handed over $15 million in donations to Trump-aligned causes.
From Political Rift to Generous Donations
The peace offering came after months of feuding between Musk and Trump—who once treated each other like political soulmates.
Musk, who had previously served in Trump’s White House as a special advisor overseeing government efficiency, parted ways with the administration in a cloud of drama.
Yet according to new filings with the Federal Election Commission, Musk gave $5 million each to three pro-Trump super PACs—MAGA Inc., the Senate Leadership Fund, and the Congressional Leadership Fund—on June 27.
That donation landed just days before Musk made another big political move of his own.
Enter the “America Party”
Only eight days after cutting checks to Republican causes, Musk took to his X platform (formerly Twitter) and announced he was launching a new political party: The America Party.
The announcement came hot on the heels of an online poll Musk posted on July 4, where he asked followers if it was time to start something new. The response? Over 65% said yes.
In classic Musk style, he declared:
“By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it!”
He didn’t stop there. Musk criticized both major U.S. parties, claiming:
“When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste and graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy.”
And with that, he introduced the America Party’s mission: “to give you back your freedom.”
Big Spending and Small Wins
Musk has already poured $45 million into his new political machine, the America PAC.
But the early returns haven’t been promising—most of that money went into a failed attempt to sway a Wisconsin Supreme Court race.
Still, Musk seems determined to keep going, even if that means clashing with old allies.
A Feud That Everyone Saw Coming
In hindsight, the falling out between Musk and Trump seemed inevitable.
Even when Musk joined Trump’s team as a special advisor in early 2025, betting markets predicted the bromance wouldn’t last beyond summer.
And they were right—by July, it had turned ugly.
Musk, once a massive Trump backer who reportedly spent $288 million on his campaign, was now mocking the former president online and accusing him of showing up in Jeffrey Epstein’s files. The personal jabs kept escalating.
The Breaking Point: EVs and a Big Beautiful Bill
Things hit a breaking point when Musk stepped down from his role at DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) in protest over Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill”—legislation that would cut tax breaks for electric vehicles.
For Musk, who built Tesla into a global empire, that was a direct attack on his legacy.
He also criticized the bill for driving up the national deficit, which ran counter to DOGE’s mission of cutting wasteful spending.
The drama escalated when Trump pulled his nomination of Musk-ally Jared Isaacman to lead NASA, citing Isaacman’s previous donations to Democrats.
Public Jabs and Private Grudges
Ever since, the two have traded insults like teenagers in a group chat.
Musk called Trump ungrateful and claimed he only won the presidency because of Musk’s support. Trump retaliated by calling Musk “crazy.”
Musk even threatened to sabotage Trump’s reelection campaign by backing Rep.
Thomas Massie—a Republican who voted against Trump’s major spending bill.
Trump Allegedly Leaks Musk’s Drug Use
Then came the most explosive twist. According to author Michael Wolff, Trump was the source who leaked embarrassing details about Musk’s alleged drug use.
The New York Times reported that during the 2024 campaign, Musk was using so much ketamine that it was causing health issues, and he was also allegedly dabbling in ecstasy, mushrooms, and what looked like Adderall.
Musk has denied the accusations, and in true Musk fashion, he responded by posting a drug test online to try and clear his name.
What’s Next for Musk and Trump?
At this point, it’s unclear whether Musk’s donations were a genuine attempt at reconciliation or just political maneuvering.
One thing is certain: the billionaire has no intention of staying quiet.
With the America Party gaining steam and Musk still commanding an enormous online following, the feud with Trump may be far from over.
