The fractious relationship between the US President and the world’s wealthiest individual, Elon Musk, is unfolding with the same rapid intensity that marked its inception. As President Donald Trump engaged in discussions in the Oval Office alongside Germany’s leader, he expressed his disappointment over the deterioration of his rapport with Musk, who has transitioned from a close advisor to a vocal critic on social media.
During this session, Trump mentioned that Musk, recently departed from his role leading the Department of Government Efficiency, seems to yearn for a return to the White House and may be suffering from what he termed “Trump derangement syndrome.” Trump reflected on their past collaboration, stating, “Look, Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore,” while asserting that his contributions to Musk’s ventures went largely unacknowledged.
Trump dismissed Musk’s substantial financial backing of his campaign in the last election, suggesting he would have succeeded in pivotal Pennsylvania even without Musk’s support, which amounted to approximately $384 million.
These remarks came amid Musk’s ongoing criticism of Trump’s recently proposed economic bill, dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill,” which Musk warns could exacerbate the federal deficit. Musk has labelled the bill a “disgusting abomination”, arguing that it was hastily passed without adequate scrutiny by Congress – a claim he made in a swift rebuttal via social media as Trump spoke, countering with “False.” Musk accused Trump of only objecting to the measure because it eliminates tax credits beneficial to electric vehicles, and insisted that Trump could retain the tax cuts but ought to discard the unnecessary expenditures embedded within the legislation.
Contrary to Trump’s assertions, the Congressional Budget Office predicts that this legislation could lead to an increase of $3.7 trillion in deficits over the next decade while potentially stripping health insurance from an additional 10.9 million people.
The escalating feud between Trump and Musk illustrates the breakdown of what was once a strong alliance, characterized by public clashes and social media disputes that indicate a significant shift in their dynamic. As both figures continue to exchange barbs, the political ramifications and public responses to their fallout remain to be seen.