What was once a close alliance between two prominent figures on the American right has dissolved into a very public dispute.
Donald Trump and Elon Musk, who once celebrated Trump’s election victory together, are now exchanging insults and accusations.
Their falling out follows a pattern seen with many of Trump’s former allies, who initially worked closely with him before a public rift developed.
Musk supported Trump’s reelection with significant financial and political backing, championed cuts to government spending, and has now turned against the former president and his proposed spending bill.
Musk Previously Wanted Trump to Retire
Musk publicly endorsed Trump’s reelection bid in July 2024, after an assassination attempt on the candidate. He reportedly spent $200 million to support Trump’s victory. However, their relationship goes back further.
During Trump’s first term, Musk served on a White House business advisory group but resigned after the U.S. withdrew from the Paris Agreement.
In 2022, Musk suggested it was time for Trump to retire and blamed Democrats for pushing him to seek office to avoid legal issues. He also expressed dissatisfaction with what he called the “party of division & hate.”
Right-Wing Supporter
In the same year, Musk acquired Twitter, a social media platform he accused of censoring conservative viewpoints.
As the new owner, he reinstated Trump’s account, which had been suspended following the Capitol riot, and altered content moderation policies, leading to criticism that the platform became a haven for “misinformation” and hate speech.
Musk also criticized President Joe Biden’s immigration policies, accusing him of keeping the border “open” to bolster the Democratic Party’s voter base, a claim Trump echoed with his promise of mass deportations.
“Chainsaw Man”
In January 2025, Musk was appointed to head the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), tasked with identifying and eliminating wasteful government spending.
While critics labeled his approach as reckless, Trump praised DOGE as a success, demonstrating his administration’s commitment to cutting red tape.
In February, Musk wielded a chainsaw at CPAC, a gift from Argentinian President Javier Milei, symbolizing these cost-cutting efforts.
Controversies
Musk’s tenure in government was marked by controversy. Allegations of a Nazi salute were dismissed by Trump’s supporters as politically motivated. His criticisms of leaders of allied nations were also downplayed.
Reportedly, Musk clashed with cabinet members, criticizing Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy for insufficient staff cuts. Trump dismissed the report as “fake news.”
Despite these denials, tensions grew. Before leaving DOGE, Musk expressed “disappointment” with Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” later calling it a “massive, outrageous, pork-filled…disgusting abomination.”
Relationship Breakdown
The Trump-Musk relationship deteriorated rapidly on Thursday after Trump accused Musk of opposing the legislation out of personal spite, claiming Musk’s opposition arose from the potential reduction of electric vehicle mandates.
Musk refuted Trump’s claims on X, accusing him of dishonesty and ingratitude for Musk’s support during the election. Trump responded on Truth Social, alleging that Musk had “gone CRAZY” and threatened to withdraw government contracts from Musk’s companies.
Musk then accused Trump of involvement in the sex crimes of Jeffrey Epstein, suggesting potential impeachment, and threatened to halt NASA’s manned space program by decommissioning SpaceX’s Dracon spacecraft. Musk has indicated he will take time to cool down, and White House insiders have suggested a truce may be possible.
Some Democrats speculated that Musk might switch political allegiances, while others expressed satisfaction at his downfall. Congresswoman Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez commented that the “two huge egos” were incompatible and the breakup was inevitable.