The once influential relationship between former President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk has dramatically unraveled this week in a very public and bitter spat. What began as ideological friction over Trump’s latest spending bill exploded into a full-blown feud that has left Washington buzzing and political observers stunned.
Speaking to NBC News on Saturday, Trump lashed out at Musk, calling him “disrespectful” and warning of “very serious consequences” if the SpaceX founder supports GOP primary challengers opposed to the administration’s controversial budget proposal.
“He’ll have to pay very serious consequences if he does that,” Trump said, without offering further clarification. He made it clear that he has “no intention of speaking to him” and “no desire to repair” the fractured relationship.
The war of words comes after Musk, once a vocal supporter and major Republican donor, denounced Trump’s so-called “big, beautiful” spending bill as an “abomination.” The bill, still under congressional review, could become the cornerstone of Trump’s second-term economic agenda.
Social Media Eruption and the Fallout
The feud erupted publicly on Thursday through a series of pointed social media exchanges. Musk’s posts criticizing Trump’s economic plan were met with fierce backlash from the former president, including an angry Oval Office rant that reignited old tensions.
Some Republican lawmakers, already unhappy with the spending bill’s massive scope, seized the moment to urge Musk to fund primary challenges against GOP members backing the legislation. Musk, who bankrolled several Republican efforts during the last election cycle, was seen as a potential threat to Trump’s grip on the party.
Just days earlier, Trump had praised Musk after he left his position at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a symbolic cost-cutting agency. But goodwill quickly turned to animosity.
“I just wish him well,” Trump said on Friday, seemingly trying to dial down the drama. Musk replied with a neutral “Likewise” on X, formerly Twitter. However, Saturday’s interview with NBC confirmed that the rift remains deep and unresolved.
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Epstein Allegations Stir Further Controversy
The feud took an even darker turn after Musk posted a now-deleted message claiming Trump appeared in undisclosed government files related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while facing federal sex trafficking charges.
“Time to drop the really big bomb: (Trump) is in the Epstein files,” Musk wrote, implying that the administration was withholding explosive documents. “That is the real reason they have not been made public.”
Musk didn’t provide any evidence or details and later removed the posts, but not before the claims drew massive attention online and sparked a new media storm.
Trump dismissed the accusations as “old news” and said in his NBC interview: “Even Epstein’s lawyer said I had nothing to do with it.” He acknowledged that he had known Epstein socially but denied ever visiting his infamous private island, Little Saint James, where many of the crimes were alleged to have occurred.
Trump’s name has previously appeared in deposition documents unsealed earlier this year, though he has not been accused of any wrongdoing. Despite online speculation, no official agency has confirmed that Trump is implicated in any unreleased Epstein-related material.
Political and Economic Risks Loom Large
The fallout between Trump and Musk carries significant political and financial implications. Musk was a powerful ally in the tech and business world, helping bridge Trump’s populist base with the corporate elite. Their public collapse risks alienating wealthy donors and creating rifts within the Republican party as the 2026 midterms approach.
With Musk’s massive following on social media and influence in political circles, his shift away from Trump could embolden critics of the administration’s policies, particularly on government spending and regulatory overreach.
Meanwhile, Trump’s MAGA loyalists have continued to push conspiracies about Epstein’s connections to public figures, focusing mostly on Democrats and celebrities. Still, some observers now worry that Musk’s claim, even if retracted, could revive uncomfortable scrutiny for Trump himself.
“He was a terrific guy,” Trump once said of Epstein in the early 2000s, noting their mutual fondness for glamorous lifestyles. That quote — once forgotten — is now circulating widely again.
As both men retreat to their respective corners, one thing is clear: the alliance between the world’s most powerful politician and the world’s richest entrepreneur is not just broken — it’s scorched.