All About Elon Musk and Trump’s Fight So Far

Not long ago, the relationship between Donald Trump and Elon Musk looked like one of the most unlikely political alliances in America but also one of the most powerful.

Now, that bond has exploded into a public and personal feud playing out across social media, the White House, and even the stock market.

So what happened? How did Trump and Musk go from close allies to fierce rivals in just a matter of days? Let’s break it down.

From smiles and rallies to government power

The friendship between Trump and Musk wasn’t always obvious. But over time, the billionaire tech mogul and the populist politician found common ground.

During Trump’s 2024 re-election campaign, Musk made a surprising appearance at a Trump rally, standing proudly beside the former president and raising a fist in support.

In the months that followed, Musk became an increasingly visible part of Trump’s circle smiling with Trump and Vice President JD Vance at football games, attending Trump’s second inauguration alongside top American tech CEOs, and even joining the Trump administration as a special government employee.

In this role, Musk led the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (nicknamed “Doge”). Under Musk’s leadership, the department slashed federal agencies and laid off thousands of workers — moves that earned both praise and controversy.

The alliance reached a peak when Musk attended White House cabinet meetings wearing a hat that read “Trump Was Right About Everything!” and received a golden key from Trump himself, as a gesture of trust and friendship.

Signs of trouble

But behind the scenes, tension had been simmering for months. Musk’s business ties with China were a constant headache for Washington. 

His Shanghai Tesla factory Tesla’s largest outside the U.S. generated billions in revenue but also drew criticism for cozy ties with Beijing, especially after Musk repeated Chinese talking points on sensitive topics like Taiwan.

Meanwhile, inside the U.S., Musk’s outspoken political style and increasing clashes with officials had already become a political liability. Still, Trump stuck by him.

But as Musk’s 130-day government stint came to an end, speculation mounted: when would this alliance fall apart?

The feud erupts

That answer came sooner than many expected. The spark was Trump’s new tax and spending bill, a signature piece of legislation that Musk strongly opposed. Musk didn’t hold back. 

On his social media platform, X, he called the bill an “abomination” and began openly campaigning against it.

Trump, caught off guard, said publicly that he was “very surprised” and “disappointed” by Musk’s criticism. That comment triggered a full-blown public fight.

Musk retaliated on X with a series of harsh posts, even suggesting that Trump should be impeached. He accused Trump of being ungrateful and claimed that without his support, Trump would not have won the last election.

The war of words escalated fast:

• Trump threatened to cancel government contracts with Musk’s companies, a move that sent Tesla shares plummeting by more than 14% — wiping billions off the company’s value.
  
• Musk then threatened to decommission SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, used by NASA to transport astronauts to the International Space Station, though he later backed down from that threat.
  
• Musk also suggested, without evidence, that Trump’s name appeared in unreleased files related to Jeffrey Epstein — a claim dismissed by government sources and the FBI.
  

At this point, the alliance was beyond repair. Trump declared that Musk had “gone CRAZY” and accused him of betraying the administration.

The personal and political fallout

The feud isn’t just about political disagreements, it’s personal now. Musk pinned a poll on X asking followers if it was time to form a new political party that represents the “80% in the middle.” Millions voted, and the majority said yes.

At the same time, Steve Bannon, a longtime Trump ally, called for the government to “seize SpaceX tonight”, underlining how deeply Musk’s government contracts are now under threat.

Currently, SpaceX holds around $22 billion in U.S. government contracts, including a $733 million deal with the Department of Defense and at least $15 billion with NASA. The potential loss of these deals would be a massive financial blow to Musk’s empire.

Meanwhile, public opinion is divided. Some Americans see the feud as “two egos going at it,” while others worry about the instability this public fight brings to both politics and business.

Ironically, one big winner in all this might be X itself. Engagement on Musk’s platform has skyrocketed as people follow every twist and turn of the spat.

What’s next?

Despite the heated words, there may be a small opening for reconciliation. When billionaire Bill Ackman called on both men to “make peace,” Musk responded: “You’re not wrong.”

But for now, Trump and Musk are locked in a bitter fight with no clear end in sight. A week ago, they were smiling in the Oval Office. Today, the richest man in the world and the most powerful politician in America are at war and the fallout is just beginning.