Tensions between President Trump and Elon Musk exploded into full public view Thursday as their once-close alliance turned into a political street fight across social media.
The clash, which began earlier in the week over Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” quickly escalated when Trump lashed out on Truth Social, claiming Musk “just went CRAZY!” and floated the idea of canceling his government contracts. It marked a sharp turn in tone from the president, who had just days earlier called Musk a “friend.”
On X, Musk fired back with a flurry of high-voltage posts one of which claimed Trump appears in the infamous Jeffrey Epstein files. He then amplified a call from an influencer to impeach Trump, replying with a curt but clear “Yes.”
The rift deepened when Musk accused Trump of “ingratitude,” saying the president had benefited greatly from his support. Musk has repeatedly claimed Trump would have lost the 2024 election without his financial help and public endorsements, including his appearances on the campaign trail and work inside the administration.
In the Oval Office earlier that day, Trump told reporters that Musk “misses the spotlight” and was angry about the rollback of electric vehicle subsidies, a clear jab at Tesla’s interests. Musk brushed that off online, standing by his criticism of what he called a bloated and wasteful spending bill.
As the feud played out in real time, lawmakers on Capitol Hill remained focused on the controversial bill’s prospects. But even they weren’t spared. Musk began digging up old quotes from Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, suggesting they’ve abandoned prior principles in order to fall in line behind Trump’s fiscal package.
Musk’s posts have now turned a high-stakes legislative battle into a bitter personal war one that could have lasting consequences for both Trump’s presidency and the broader GOP coalition.