Washington, D.C., (June 6, 2025) – The once-promising “bromance” between President Donald Trump and tech CEO Elon Musk has utterly collapsed into a very public feud full of finger pointing, disagreements over public policy, and a back and forth of insults on social media.
The fallout from this dramatic turnabout was prompted when Musk publicly criticized a big-spending bill which was supported by the Trump administration, and was shocking enough to disturb the business and political world and raise questions about where their influence and relationship would go next.
The public feud ratcheted up another notch this week after weeks of build-up. Sources on the inside say that the rift began shortly after Musk announced his withdrawal from his role in TRUMP’S “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), the department he was appointed to lead to eliminate spending at the federal government level, announced with no other fanfare, and existed mostly for Elon Musk’s political star.
The “Big Beautiful Bill” versus the “Disgusting Abomination”
At the center of the dispute is the “Big Beautiful Bill”, which was the bill Trump proposed to fund tax expenditures and government programs. While Trump insists the bill was a landmark bill that would dramatically reduce costs while delivering the biggest tax cut ever, Musk has resisted it in every conceivable fashion.
Musk specifically referred to the legislation as a “disgusting abomination” and a “big ugly bill” in multiple posts on his social media platform X, while arguing that it increased the federal deficit by hundreds of billions.
He was particularly critical of the portions of the legislation that would take away electric vehicle tax credits, which obviously impact his business (Tesla). Trump, however, did not have his normal response to Musk’s criticisms – at least not until we were in a White House meeting with the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
When during the meeting Trump was asked about Musk’s remarks, he said he was “disappointed.” “Elon and I had a great relationship,” he stated, “I don’t know if we will anymore.” He accused Musk of having come out against the bill only after he found out it would cut EV subsidies. He claimed that Trump “knew the ins and outs of this bill better than almost anybody sitting here” and had not, “ever take issue with it.
All of a sudden it was an issue.” Trump then speculated Musk’s abrupt aggressiveness was because he had left the administration. “I think he missed the place,” he claimed alluding to both Yellowstone National Park and the administration.
He was, in a way, comparing Musk’s behavior to “Trump derangement syndrome” – a condition Trump claims people get when they leave the administration and become angry.
Musk’s Explosive Response: Ingratitude into Epstein Allegations Musk’s response was immediate and explosive while Trump was speaking. He repudiated Trump’s assertions with a “False. That bill was never shown to me once and was passed in the dead of night so fast that almost no one in congress could read it!” he responded.
Musk then completely dashed his rebuttal and began to challenge Trump’s success as President.”I could have cost Trump the election and the Dems would have the House and the Rs would have 51-49 in the Senate,” Musk said, concluding with a painful “Such ingratitude.”
This indicated the amount of money Musk spent on, and support he provided to, Trump and R candidates, probably in hundreds of millions thru a super PAC.
The feud got even more sensational when Musk dropped a huge claim: “Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!” This unverified claim about unreleased reference documents on disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein would have immediatedly sparked speculation and respect for both, and kept the flaming tweet war going.
Threats, Reversals, and Calls for Peace
The hostility was increasing. Trump on his platform, Truth Social, stated “wearing thin” and indicated he “asked him to leave.” He threatened to cut government contracts and subsidies for Musk’s companies. “The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts,” Trump posted to Truth Social.
Musk stood defiantly and responded that in light of Trump’s threats, SpaceX would start to “decommission its Dragon spacecraft immediately,” which could present challenges to NASA because the Dragon spacecraft is the most efficient means of transferring astronauts to the International Space Station and returning them home safely.
Musk later backed off when he appeared interested in having a “cooling off” period agreeing with investor Bill Ackman, who publically asked both of the powerful billionaires to “make peace for the sake of our great country.”
The Stakes: Political and Financial Consequences
The public collapse of this shiny alliance carried consequences. Musk’s financial consequences were instant. Tesla’s shares fell causing billions worth of market loss. SpaceX and Tesla reliance on cheap taxpayer contracts makes the loss of those government contracts and Federal contracts a particular threat for his business empire.
Both politically and financially, the confrontation has the potential to fracture Republican unity and hinder the passage of critical legislation. The power of any Musk was already evident, utilizing organized online efforts and lots of money serving as invaluable assets to Trump’s and party’s success.
Musk’s disungraceful threats from this point create charged conditions from the previous prized appointee for the overwhelmingly significant ability to fund and organize candidate and state campaign efforts would undermine the R party future.
Now it remains to be seen whether two powerful and often irrational individuals will get anywhere close to the source of this destructive feud or deserted relationship that previously appeared to be imposing and capable of reimagining the political landscape. In coming days we may find out whether “making amends” will prevail or if has become permanent and so-called bromance battles rages on.