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A relationship once described as strategic and mutually supportive between President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk has suddenly become icy and very public.
1. From Allies to Adversaries
After Musk led the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) via Oval Office appearances through May, he resigned in late May, citing conflicting views on Trump’s landmark fiscal plan dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”.
In response, Trump reacted sharply at a June 5 press conference:
“Elon was ‘wearing thin,’ I asked him to leave… and he just went CRAZY!”
That exchange ignited a series of incendiary public posts.
2. Fury on X (Formerly Twitter)
Musk’s backlash was swift and merciless:
He accused Trump of “ingratitude,” tweeting that “without me, Trump would have lost the election…”
Called the fiscal bill a “disgusting abomination,” and warned Trump’s tariff plans would trigger a recession
Even insinuated Trump appears in “Epstein files,” later deleting that post
Trump hit back using Truth Social:
“Terminate Elon’s governmental subsidies and contracts”
And he ridiculed Musk for removing EV tax credits3. Market Fallout & Political Fallout
Markets alerted:
Tesla stock plunged ~14%, shedding $150 billion in market value after the feud went public
Trump even considered ending federal contracts with Musk’s companies sending ripples through investors
Politically, Trump issued a stern warning on June 7: he would impose “very serious consequences” if Musk supports Democrats
4. Calm After the Storm or Just a Pause?
By mid‑June, both sides cooled tensions slightly:
Musk publicly expressed regret for some tweets
Trump softened his tone: calling Musk a “friend who got a little bit strange” and voiced openness to reconciliation
But many suggest this is more pause than peace even if there's potential for a future rapprochement.
In just days, Musk and Trump managed to go from partners working on major fiscal reforms to locked in a high-stakes showdown that rattled markets, strained political lines, and forced both men to reassess their public personas.
Whether this feud remains a brief outburst or reshapes the trajectory of Musk’s enterprises (and Trump’s political return) will depend on what unfolds next but one thing’s clear: Silicon Valley and Washington have collided, and the ripple effects will be felt far and wide.