Elon Musk vs Donald Trump
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July 24, 2026
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Elon Musk vs Donald Trump
Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s alliance broke down over Trump’s tax-and-spending bill, escalating through social media attacks, Epstein-file allegations and impeachment comments.
Donald Trump is an American politician, businessman and media figure who served as the 45th U.S. president and is serving as the 47th president.
Donald Trump
Background
Elon Musk became one of Donald Trump’s most visible supporters during the 2024 election, spending more than $250 million to support Trump and allied Republican groups. After Trump returned to office, Musk led the Department of Government Efficiency as a temporary special government employee.
On May 30, 2025, Trump praised Musk during an Oval Office farewell and said Musk would remain an adviser after leaving government. Four days later, Musk publicly attacked Trump’s tax-and-spending bill.
Early Tension
Musk called the bill a “disgusting abomination” and argued that it would increase the federal deficit. The criticism came from a major Trump donor, a recent administration adviser and the head of companies with substantial federal contracts.
Escalation
Trump said Musk was angry about electric-vehicle policy and suggested the government could cancel subsidies and contracts involving Musk’s companies. Musk replied that SpaceX would begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft, then withdrew that threat. The confrontation raised questions about government relationships with Tesla, SpaceX and Starlink.
Musk then alleged that Trump appeared in unreleased Jeffrey Epstein records and endorsed a post calling for Trump’s impeachment and replacement by JD Vance. Trump said he did not plan to speak with Musk and warned of consequences if Musk funded Democrats. Musk later deleted some of the posts.
Current Status
On June 11, 2025, Musk said he regretted some of his posts because they had gone too far. The White House said Trump appreciated the statement. Musk later renewed his criticism of the bill and announced the “America Party” after Trump signed the legislation.
Trump and Musk spoke and shook hands at Charlie Kirk’s memorial service in September 2025. By July 2026, Trump referred to their confrontation as a “little dispute.” Neither resumed the sustained personal attacks seen in June 2025, leaving the public conflict inactive rather than formally resolved.
July 9, 2022
At a rally in Alaska, Trump mocked Musk and called him “another bullshit artist.” The remark triggered Musk’s direct public reply two days later.
Trump mocks Musk at Alaska rally
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July 12, 2022
Musk said Trump was too old to run again and should “sail into the sunset.” Trump answered with fresh attacks on Truth Social.
Musk says Trump should “sail into the sunset”
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July 13, 2024
After the shooting at Trump’s Butler rally, Musk publicly endorsed him for president and wished him a rapid recovery. The post marked a clear shift from their public tension in 2022.
Musk endorses Trump after assassination attempt
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October 5, 2024
Musk appeared beside Trump at his return rally in Butler and urged the crowd to vote for him, publicly confirming their political alliance.
Musk Joins Trump at Butler Rally
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May 30, 2025
Trump praised Musk during an Oval Office farewell and said Musk would remain an adviser after leaving government. Four days later, Musk attacked Trump’s spending bill.
Trump Praises Musk as His Government Role Ends
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June 3, 2025
Musk attacked Trump’s tax-and-spending bill as a “disgusting abomination.” The post turned policy disagreement into a public break with Trump’s agenda.
Musk calls Trump’s bill a “disgusting abomination”
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June 5, 2025
Trump said he was “very disappointed” in Musk. Musk replied that Trump would have lost the election without him: “Such ingratitude.”
Trump and Musk trade public blame
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June 5, 2025
Trump suggested ending Musk’s government contracts and subsidies. Musk backed impeachment talk and made an unsupported Epstein-files allegation.
Trump threatens contracts; Musk makes Epstein claim
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June 7, 2025
Trump told NBC he had no interest in repairing the relationship and warned Musk of “serious consequences” if he funded Democrats against Republicans.
Trump warns Musk of “serious consequences”
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June 11, 2025
Musk wrote that he regretted some posts about Trump because they “went too far.” The apology marked the first public softening after the June blowup.
Musk says some Trump posts “went too far”
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June 28, 2025
Musk resumed criticism of the Senate version of Trump’s bill, saying it would “destroy millions of jobs.” The renewed attack reopened the feud after his apology.
Musk renews criticism of Trump’s tax-and-spending bill
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July 1, 2025
Asked about deporting Musk, Trump said DOGE might “go back and eat Elon.” He also pushed scrutiny of Musk-linked subsidies.
Trump targets Musk’s subsidies and says DOGE may “eat Elon”
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July 5, 2025
After Trump signed the bill, Musk said he had formed the America Party. The move turned the dispute from a policy fight into a direct political threat.
Musk announces the America Party
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July 6, 2025
Trump called Musk’s third-party plan “ridiculous” and said it would add confusion. The reply kept the feud active after Musk’s America Party announcement.
Trump calls Musk’s party plan “ridiculous”
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July 24, 2025
Trump said he would not take away subsidies to destroy Musk’s companies and wanted them to thrive. The comment softened an earlier threat over federal support.
Trump says he will not destroy Musk’s companies
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August 20, 2025
Reuters reported that Musk was putting the brakes on the America Party, citing the Wall Street Journal. Musk denied the report on X.
Musk reportedly slows plans for the America Party
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Timeline
💡 Did You Know?
• Elon Musk spent more than a quarter of a billion dollars supporting Donald Trump's 2024 election campaign and allied Republican groups.
• The White House publicly described Musk as a departing DOGE adviser during their joint Oval Office press conference on May 30, 2025.
• During their June 2025 dispute, Musk briefly threatened to decommission SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft before withdrawing the threat.
• Reuters estimated that about $22 billion in SpaceX government contracts could have been affected by the confrontation.
• On June 11, 2025, Musk said he regretted some of his posts about Trump because they had gone too far.
Further watching & listening
Selected interviews, releases and external links connected to this feud.
ARTICLES
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Musk’s “sail into the sunset” post
Musk’s post said Trump should leave presidential politics behind. It became the first clear public insult in their relationship.
INTERVIEWS
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Trump’s CNBC comment on Musk
Trump told CNBC he had a very good relationship with Musk and called their falling-out a “little dispute.”
VIDEOS
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Trump and Musk at Charlie Kirk’s memorial
The Reuters video shows Trump and Musk shaking hands at Charlie Kirk’s memorial, their clearest public interaction after the feud.
VIDEOS
FREE
Trump and Musk’s Oval Office Farewell Press Conference
The White House press conference shows Trump praising Musk as his government role ended, days before their alliance broke down publicly.
VIDEOS
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Trump and Musk Trade Barbs as Feud Turns Personal
CBS News documents the June 5 escalation as Trump threatened Musk’s government contracts and Musk answered with personal attacks.
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