WASHINGTON D.C. – A spectacular public battle erupted Thursday as the once-chummy relationship between former President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk imploded. The Trump Musk feud saw accusations fly, with Musk calling for Trump’s impeachment and linking him to Jeffrey Epstein, while Trump threatened to axe federal support for Musk’s companies.
This extraordinary social media showdown, fueled by a dispute over a Republican spending bill, unfolded over several remarkable hours. The two figures, previously cautious in their public remarks about each other, shed all restraint, trading deeply personal insults on their respective platforms.
Spending Bill Spat Triggers the Trump Musk Feud
For weeks, Elon Musk had vocally criticized a Republican spending bill, labeling the legislation a “disgusting abomination” due to its projected $2.4 trillion addition to the deficit. On Thursday, Trump, appearing in the Oval Office, seemed to have had enough. He openly mocked a recent black eye Musk sported and questioned his loyalty. “Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will any more,” Trump remarked. He then accused Musk of turning against the bill purely for self-interest because it didn’t benefit Tesla, Musk’s electric car company, and pulled the nomination of Musk’s choice to head NASA. “I’m very disappointed with Elon,” Trump added.
Musk’s retaliation was swift. On X, he accused Trump of lying about the bill and of “such ingratitude” for the millions Musk had poured into his election efforts. “Without me, Trump would have lost the election,” Musk declared.
Epstein Claims and Personal Jabs Escalate Trump Musk Feud
The Trump Musk feud then veered into more incendiary territory. After Trump threatened subsidies for his companies, Musk posted on X: “Time to drop the really big bomb: Donald Trump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!” This explosive claim came despite Musk himself having been photographed in 2014 with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s convicted accomplice.
Trump hit back on Truth Social, claiming he had fired Musk from a special adviser role because he was “wearing thin.” Musk retorted, “Such an obvious lie. So sad.” Even Ashley St Clair, mother to one of Musk’s children, chimed in on X, tagging Trump: “Let me know if u need any breakup advice.”
Market Tremors and a Shattered Alliance
The public implosion had immediate financial ripples. Tesla shares dropped nearly 15% Thursday afternoon, a slide timed closely with Trump’s initial remarks. While SpaceX isn’t publicly traded, its competitors saw a bump.
This very public spat ends a notable partnership. Musk, through his America Pac, had funneled hundreds of millions into Trump’s re-election efforts. For months, the White House had portrayed their relationship as one of simple ideological alignment, a narrative now shattered by this bitter and astonishingly public acrimony.
By Abdullah Korede
