How Donald Trump-Elon Musk tensions went from unhealthy to worse in days: A blow-by-blow recap

The height of Trump-Musk bromance

The alliance started in July 2024, when Musk supplied his full-throated assist to then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump after an assassination try in Butler, Pennsylvania.

“I totally endorse President Trump and hope for his fast restoration,” Musk posted on X simply minutes after the incident; he would go on to hitch Trump on the marketing campaign path, donning a customized “Make America Nice Once more” hat.

The connection between the 2 shortly progressed. Following Trump’s inauguration, Musk was appointed an unpaid presidential advisor below the “particular authorities worker” class. 

Musk confessed his emotions for the Republican President in February this yr, saying, “I like @realDonaldTrump as a lot as a straight man can love one other man,” he wrote on ‘X’.

Within the early days of the Trump administration, the Tesla CEO turned essentially the most public face of the newly established Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE), the place he pushed aggressive cost-cutting reforms.

Trump-Musk fallout

At his closing Oval Workplace press convention on Might 31, Trump lavished reward on Musk, calling him “one of many best enterprise leaders and innovators the world has ever produced.” It was the ultimate scene of their public camaraderie earlier than issues fell aside.

The bromance started to unravel shortly after Musk’s departure from the White Home. On a number of events, he criticised the Trump administration’s “One Massive Stunning Invoice,” warning it could improve the federal deficit and undo DOGE’s efforts. 

That is what the tech billionaire needed to say concerning the invoice: “This large, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending invoice is a disgusting abomination,” Musk posted on his website ‘X’ on June 3.

The tipping level in Trump-Musk ties

Tensions boiled over on June 5 (Thursday) when Trump accused Musk of attempting to sabotage the invoice as a result of its elimination of electrical automobile tax credit—an alleged blow to Tesla’s backside line. “Elon and I had a terrific relationship. I do not know if we are going to any extra,” Trump advised reporters.

“I am very dissatisfied in Elon. He knew each facet of this invoice. He knew it higher than nearly anyone, and he by no means had an issue till proper after he left,” he added.

Musk fired again on-line, denying Trump’s model of occasions. On June 6, he wrote, “This invoice was by no means proven to me even as soon as and was handed at nighttime so quick that nearly nobody in Congress may even learn it!”

Nevertheless, the rupture turned deeply private later the identical day when Musk urged that Trump had ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

“Trump’s title is within the Epstein recordsdata. That’s the actual motive they haven’t been made public.” 

Musk adopted with a decades-old quote from Trump on Epstein: “He’s loads of enjoyable to be with… and lots of of [the women] are on the youthful facet.” Musk ended the publish with a mocking sign-off: “Have a pleasant day, DJT!”

He even went on to publish a ballot for ‘X’ customers on whether or not he ought to begin a brand new political occasion for “the 80% within the center.”

Musk then went additional, endorsing requires Trump’s impeachment and supporting JD Vance as a substitute. He additionally warned that Trump’s world tariffs would “trigger a recession within the second half of this yr.”

The US President’s response

Trump threatened to terminate authorities contracts and subsidies for Musk’s corporations on June 6 in response to Musk’s on-line rant.

The financial fallout was fast. Tesla shares plunged greater than 14% on Thursday (native time), wiping out roughly $152 billion in market worth and costing Musk $8.73 billion in private wealth, in accordance with Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index, cited by ANI.

Trump took to Fact Social to reply with renewed fury. “I don’t thoughts Elon turning in opposition to me, however he ought to have finished so months in the past,” Trump wrote later the identical day.

He defended the invoice as “one of many Best Payments ever offered to Congress,” warning that failure to cross it could end in a “68 per cent Tax Improve.” 

He doubled down on the assault, saying, “Elon was ‘sporting skinny,’ I requested him to go away, I took away his EV Mandate… and he simply went CRAZY.”

The web crossfire continued as Trump focused Musk’s enterprise pursuits. “The simplest approach to economize in our Funds… is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts,” Trump posted.