It’s not every day that a spat between the world’s richest man and a former president makes headlines, but when it does, you can bet it’ll be messy—and involve a few gorilla metaphors. The latest fallout?
Elon Musk and Donald Trump, once on good terms, are now locked in a full-blown feud.
And weighing in? Elon’s own father, Errol Musk, who has some old-school advice for his high-profile son.
Papa Musk Plays Peacemaker—Sort Of
Errol Musk didn’t hold back in a recent interview with The Times of London, likening the clash between Trump and his son to alpha animals fighting for dominance.
“In any successful group of animals, whether gorillas, elephants or human beings, the dominant males will always fight for dominance,” he explained.
And in this battle, he said, Trump holds the upper hand. Why? Because Trump’s the one who got elected.
According to Errol, “The problem with really high-quality people is that all the men think they should be the general.”
In his eyes, Elon needs to step back and realize he’s not the one leading the charge this time. Ouch.
From White House Praise to All-Out War
Just a week ago, things were looking pretty cozy between Musk and Trump.
Elon was even in the Oval Office, being praised for his work with DOGE—the Department of Government Efficiency—as he transitioned back into the private sector.
But it all unraveled fast. Musk took issue with what he called the “big, beautiful bill” Trump pushed forward, and the criticism escalated into something much bigger: a bitter, very public brawl.
The Accusations Get Ugly
The feud got intense quickly. Musk made a sharp jab, suggesting Trump might be linked to the notorious Epstein files—an accusation that lit up social media and cable news alike.
He also floated the idea that maybe it was time for Trump to go, and that Vice President J.D. Vance should step in.
Trump, for his part, wasn’t having it. He made it clear to reporters that he had no intention of smoothing things over with Musk.
In fact, he even hinted that he might sell his Tesla, which he originally bought to show support during a liberal boycott.
“He’s Had a Charmed Life”
Errol Musk didn’t seem too surprised by any of it.
Reflecting on Elon’s behavior, he said, “If something doesn’t look right to him, he can’t help himself but say so—on principle.”
But Errol’s take wasn’t all sympathetic.
“Elon is a man who has never known a day’s hardship in his life,” he added.
“He’s had a charmed life and so has never had to learn that the hard way.”
Even so, the elder Musk believes the drama has peaked and will likely blow over.
“Trump has to include certain things in the budget to get Democrats on board.
Elon saw something he didn’t like and spoke up—but that should be the end of it.”
“Let It Fizzle Out,” Says Dad
Despite the bitterness, Errol doesn’t think Trump will hold a grudge.
“Trump isn’t vengeful. He will win this round and not hold it against Elon,” he said.
“A big person can forgive easily. Only small people can’t.”
He even said he advised Elon to let it go and allow things to calm down.
“It’s just what happens when alphas clash,” he continued.
“I hope Elon will now step back and let the situation cool.”
Musk Shifts Tone—Slightly
By Friday, Elon seemed to tone things down a bit.
In response to an X post that defended him—saying he criticized Congress, not Trump—Musk replied simply: “Exactly.”
Meanwhile, Trump stayed quiet, skipping out on any public comments as he headed off for a weekend at his Bedminster property.
No statements, no press—just silence.
What’s Next?
As of now, the high-stakes standoff between Musk and Trump seems to be in a holding pattern.
Whether things cool off or erupt again remains to be seen.
But one thing is clear: when billionaires and ex-presidents butt heads, it’s never boring.