The once-solid alliance between former President Donald Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk has crumbled into a bitter and highly public feud. At the center of the fallout is Musk’s fierce criticism of Trump’s signature legislation, escalating into personal attacks, threats, and a political firestorm with potential economic ramifications.
1. Musk Rebukes “One Big Beautiful Bill”
On June 5, Elon Musk publicly slammed Trump’s sweeping tax-and-spending package—dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill”—as a “disgusting abomination.” Musk cited its addition of trillions to the federal debt and its rollback of electric-vehicle tax credits as reasons for his condemnation. This criticism served as the spark that ignited the confrontation.
2. Trump Hits Back with Serious Warnings
Trump responded swiftly, labeling Musk as “disrespectful” and “crazy.” He openly threatened to revoke federal contracts and subsidies benefiting Musk’s ventures, including Tesla, SpaceX, and Starlink. In a June 7 interview, Trump declared their relationship “over” and warned of “serious consequences” should Musk support Democratic candidates.
3. Personal Attacks and Volatile Rhetoric
What began as a policy dispute quickly turned personal. Trump accused Musk of having “lost his mind” and called him a “big-time drug addict.” He also took to Truth Social to deny Musk’s claims linking him to Jeffrey Epstein, attempting to discredit Musk's accusations.
4. Musk’s Counter-Moves
In retaliation, Musk reportedly posted—then deleted—a statement suggesting Trump was indeed tied to Epstein files. He hinted at supporting impeachment proceedings against Trump and floated the idea of launching a new political organization: the “America Party,” aimed at representing political centrists.
5. Political & Financial Fallout
The feud between the two titans has triggered significant ripple effects:
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EV Tax Credits at Risk: Trump’s critique of Tesla’s subsidies may influence lawmakers currently reviewing electric vehicle incentive programs.
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Tesla Stock Volatility: Shares of Tesla plummeted 14% in the wake of the feud, reflecting investor anxiety over potential federal contract cancellations.
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Party Tensions: Prominent Republicans, including Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson, expressed concern over Musk’s provocations and called for reconciliation, wary of further division within the party.
🔴 Why Trump Is Furious Now
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Policy Betrayal: Musk’s opposition to a cornerstone GOP legislative victory is viewed by Trump as a profound act of disloyalty.
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Personal Threats: Musk’s references to impeachment and Epstein-linked accusations are seen as character assassination.
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Power Dynamics: Trump is increasingly wary of Musk’s influence—fearing he could splinter GOP unity or even shift support toward Democrats.