President Donald Trump and billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk are locked in a bitter public feud that has gripped Washington and beyond. What began as a policy disagreement over Trump’s sweeping domestic legislation has spiraled into a war of words, with personal insults, explosive accusations, and threats of economic retaliation dominating headlines.
The conflict ignited when Musk, former head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), publicly denounced Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” a landmark legislative package that narrowly passed the House last month.
The bill, championed by Trump, promises massive tax cuts, significant reductions in federal spending, and strengthened border security.
Musk, however, slammed it on X as a “disgusting abomination,” warning that its projected $2.4 trillion to $5 trillion deficit increase would undermine his efforts to curb government waste.
His posts urging lawmakers to “KILL the BILL” put him at odds with Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, who defended the legislation as a cornerstone of a broader fiscal strategy.
Tensions had been simmering long before the public clash. Musk’s 130-day tenure at DOGE, ending on May 30, 2025, was marked by bold moves—slashing federal jobs and disrupting agency operations—but also friction with White House insiders.
Chief of Staff Susie Wiles reportedly grew frustrated with Musk’s unilateral actions, such as issuing directives to federal workers via X without consulting senior staff.
Earlier in the year, Musk’s push to dissuade Trump from imposing widespread tariffs, citing risks to Tesla’s global sales and broader economic stability, further highlighted their diverging priorities.
Trump’s refusal to relent, coupled with Musk’s public spats with trade adviser Peter Navarro, laid the groundwork for the current conflict.
The feud exploded on June 5, 2025, when Musk and Trump traded barbs on X and Truth Social. Trump accused Musk of opposing the bill to protect Tesla’s interests, particularly as the legislation eliminates electric vehicle tax credits.
He escalated the attack by mocking Musk’s loyalty, suggesting he suffered from “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” and threatening to cancel billions in federal contracts with Musk’s companies, including SpaceX, a vital NASA partner.
Musk fired back with unprecedented ferocity, claiming on X that Trump’s 2024 election victory relied on his $270 million in campaign support, decrying the president’s “ingratitude.”
He endorsed a post calling for Trump’s impeachment and replacement by Vice President JD Vance, and in a stunning escalation, alleged that Trump’s name appears in the unreleased Jeffrey Epstein files, writing, “That is the real reason they have not been made public.
Have a nice day, DJT!” Trump retaliated by pulling the nomination of Musk’s preferred NASA chief and renewing threats against SpaceX contracts.
Musk briefly announced plans to decommission the Dragon spacecraft, critical for NASA’s space station missions, before backtracking to avoid crippling U.S. space operations.
The feud’s repercussions are far-reaching. Tesla’s stock plunged 14.3% on June 5, erasing roughly $150 billion in market value, as investors braced for potential fallout from Trump’s tariff policies and contract threats.
The rift has also strained Republican unity, with House members caught between loyalty to Trump and Musk’s financial influence through his super PAC.
Representative Troy Nehls called Musk’s attacks “irresponsible,” while others, like Representative Gabe Evans, expressed hope for reconciliation.
In the Senate, Musk’s opposition could tip the scales against the bill, already facing skepticism from fiscal hawks like Senators Rand Paul and Mike Lee.
Nonpartisan analyses warn that the bill’s deficit expansion, combined with Trump’s tariffs, risks economic turmoil, potentially triggering a recession by late 2025, as Musk has cautioned.
