After months of standing shoulder to shoulder in one of the most unexpected political pairings in modern U.S. history, President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk are now at each other’s throats. What began as a close alliance — even bordering on a political bromance — has crumbled into a very public and messy spat.
The drama reached a boiling point on Thursday, when Musk took to social media to fire off a series of scathing posts attacking the president over a sweeping new tax-and-spend bill. Musk even floated the idea that Trump should face impeachment, a jaw-dropping reversal for someone who had once pledged total allegiance to the president.
In one particularly inflammatory post, Musk insinuated, without offering evidence, that Trump’s name might be linked to the notorious “Epstein files.” These partially sealed documents have long been the subject of speculation due to their connection to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Musk’s comment ignited an online firestorm and gave Trump an opening to respond in kind.
Trump clapped back with his signature flair, claiming that he personally showed Musk the door at the White House. He hinted that federal subsidies and contracts awarded to Musk’s companies could be in jeopardy — a not-so-veiled threat aimed at Tesla, SpaceX, and Musk’s other ventures.
From Partnership to Breakdown
Only months ago, the Trump-Musk relationship was being hailed as a political masterstroke. After Musk reportedly poured nearly $200 million into Trump’s successful re-election campaign, the president rewarded him with the reins of a newly minted agency: the Department of Government Efficiency, ironically dubbed “DOGE” — a nod to Musk’s favorite internet meme.
Under Musk’s leadership, DOGE quickly went to work slashing federal jobs and downsizing entire departments. The shakeups drew applause from Trump’s base and backlash from Democrats, some of whom mockingly dubbed Musk “President Elon.”
The two men appeared united. In a February Fox News sit-down, Trump called Musk “a leader,” while Musk professed, “I love the president.”
Also, read: Trump Reinstates and Expands Travel Ban, Targeting 12 Nations Amid Security Concerns
But that camaraderie had cracks from the start. Musk had previously criticized Trump as “too old” to lead and initially backed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis during the 2024 primaries. It took a failed assassination attempt on Trump — during a July 2024 rally in Pennsylvania — to finally push Musk fully into Trump’s corner.
Even so, politics is a fickle game. As the administration pushed forward with its marquee budget proposal — the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” — Musk found himself on the outside, looking in. He began publicly criticizing the bill for its bloated size and for slashing EV subsidies vital to Tesla’s bottom line.
Trump initially tried to downplay the tension, but it became increasingly clear that Musk’s growing dissatisfaction was not just about policy, it was personal.
A Bitter End?
Musk’s final days at DOGE were quiet. By April, he had stepped back from his duties. By May, he was actively lobbying against the president’s prized legislation. In a blistering X post, he called the bill “a disgusting abomination” and publicly chastised lawmakers who supported it.
Trump, for his part, didn’t hold back during a press briefing with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. “Elon knew this bill better than anyone,” he told reporters. “Then suddenly, he’s got a problem with it? Sounds more like he didn’t want to leave the West Wing.”
Whether this is a temporary falling out or a permanent fracture remains to be seen. Both men are known for their volatility and their ability to reconcile when it suits them.
But for now, one thing is clear: The Trump-Musk alliance is dead. And the breakup isn’t just political theater, it could have real implications for tech policy, government contracts, and the upcoming battles on Capitol Hill.
As one Capitol insider put it, “In Trump’s world, loyalty is currency. And Musk just bounced the check.”
