President Donald Trump’s once-close alliance with Elon Musk erupted into a public brawl this week after the Tesla and SpaceX CEO attacked Trump’s signature domestic agenda and suggested he should be impeached.
The feud, which spilled across social media and sent shockwaves through Washington and Wall Street, now threatens to fracture a Republican coalition heading into a critical legislative battle.
It began with Musk’s escalating opposition to Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a sweeping budget and tax reform package that has drawn fire from some conservatives over its projected impact on the federal deficit.
Musk called the bill a “disgusting abomination,” accusing the GOP of stuffing it with “mountains of pork” and warning it would push the U.S. deeper into debt.
Trump responded from the Oval Office on June 5, calling Musk’s attacks “disappointing” and questioning the billionaire’s motives. “Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore,” Trump told reporters, noting that Musk had previously backed the bill before objecting to provisions phasing out EV tax credits. “He only developed the problem when he found out we’re going to cut the EV mandate.”
On Truth Social, Trump warned that Musk’s companies, including SpaceX and Tesla, could lose billions in government contracts. “The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts,” he wrote.
Musk hit back by claiming credit for Trump’s 2024 victory, writing on X: “Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51–49 in the Senate. Such ingratitude.” He then suggested the president should be impeached, a comment widely dismissed by Republicans as unserious.
Tesla’s stock plummeted 14.3% in the wake of the feud, losing $150 billion in market value—its largest single-day drop ever.
The dispute escalated further when Musk referenced the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, implying without evidence that Trump was mentioned in the sealed Epstein files. “Time to drop the really big bomb. [Trump] is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!” Musk wrote.
The accusation was quickly condemned by GOP lawmakers, who called it baseless and irresponsible. “Elon crossed the line today,” said Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX).
Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX) said the remark was “not helpful,” while Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) dismissed the claim outright, stating, “If President Trump was in the Epstein files, they would have released it during the primary, and they didn’t.”
A source close to the administration also noted that Trump had banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago decades ago after learning he made advances toward a teenage girl, a move widely reported at the time.
Musk later signaled a possible retreat from the brink, replying “Good advice” to a follower urging him to cool off, and reversing an earlier threat to decommission SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft.
Despite the volatility, the White House remains focused on passing the budget bill. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt attributed Musk’s outbursts to disappointment that the legislation didn’t cater to his corporate interests. “The President is focused on passing this historic piece of legislation and making our country great again,” she said.
With the bill heading to the Senate, Trump can’t afford many defections. But as the dust settles from this high-profile spat, it’s clear that loyalty—especially from those who once stood close—still matters deeply to the 45th president.