Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump’s relationship has dramatically deteriorated in recent weeks, evolving from a strategic alliance to a public feud fuelled by political disagreements, personal attacks, and high-stakes threats. The once political allies are now acting like jilted lovers after a break-up. Both Musk and Trump are not holding back and are publicly slamming each other on X (Twitter). Here’s a timeline of Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s growing feud.
Elon vs Trump
Initially, Musk was a significant supporter of Trump, contributing over $290 million to his 2024 campaign and leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to streamline federal operations. However, tensions escalated when Musk criticised Trump’s $1.6 trillion “One Big Beautiful Bill,” labelling it as fiscally irresponsible and detrimental to clean energy initiatives.
The discord intensified on social media platforms. Musk, via X (formerly Twitter), accused Trump of being named in the unreleased Jeffrey Epstein investigation files, suggesting this as a reason for their suppression. In retaliation, Trump threatened to revoke federal contracts and subsidies to Musk’s companies, including SpaceX and Tesla, citing potential budget savings.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025
In light of the President’s statement about cancellation of my government contracts, @SpaceX will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately pic.twitter.com/NG9sijjkgW
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025
Following that, Musk announced the decommissioning of SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, crucial for NASA missions to the International Space Station, signaling a direct challenge to Trump’s threats. However, he later retracted this decision following public outcry and appeals for de-escalation.
This feud underscores a significant rift within conservative circles, with Musk calling for Trump’s impeachment and suggesting Vice President JD Vance as a replacement. The conflict has also impacted Musk’s businesses, with Tesla’s stock experiencing a notable decline. As of now, the situation remains volatile, with both figures utilising their platforms to influence public opinion, suggesting a prolonged and potentially disruptive conflict ahead.
