The once-symbiotic relationship between Donald Trump and Elon Musk is unraveling fast. What began as behind-the-scenes tensions over Trump’s new “Big Beautiful Bill” has escalated into an all-out public feud—and now Trump’s staff is scrambling to defuse it.
According to Fox News, Musk may speak with White House aides Friday in a last-ditch attempt to calm the chaos. Sources say Trump himself has no plans to talk to Musk directly, but staffers might take the meeting as damage control.
That effort comes amid a nasty war of words on social media. Musk didn’t hold back Thursday, posting on X that Trump is “in the Epstein files,” claiming that’s why they’ve never been fully released. He ominously added, “Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out.”
The response from the Trump camp was swift. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed Musk’s outburst as a tantrum over losing green energy favoritism. “This is an unfortunate episode from Elon, who is unhappy with the One Big Beautiful Bill because it does not include the policies he wanted,” she said.
Trump himself weighed in on Truth Social with vintage Trump fire: “Elon was ‘wearing thin,’ I asked him to leave, I took away his EV Mandate that forced everyone to buy Electric Cars… and he just went CRAZY!”
He doubled down by threatening Musk’s bottom line. “The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts,” Trump wrote. “I was always surprised that Biden didn’t do it!”
Musk’s fury appears rooted in Trump’s budget-slashing legislation, which gutted EV mandates and subsidies—policies Musk’s businesses have long depended on. The tech mogul denounced the bill as a “disgusting abomination,” saying he “just can’t stand it anymore.”
Adding insult to injury, a red Tesla that Trump had personally purchased during a White House demonstration is now reportedly being given away or sold. The EV still sits with Florida plates on West Executive Drive, a silent symbol of a ruptured alliance.
Just weeks ago, Musk and Trump stood shoulder to shoulder in the Oval Office, presenting a united front on tech, economy, and energy. Trump even tapped Musk to head the Department of Government Efficiency, a short-lived role that ended in May after Musk moved to dismantle USAID and drew sharp Democrat backlash.
That unity has clearly collapsed.
Musk’s jabs about Epstein records have injected nuclear fuel into the fire. Trump allies deny any wrongdoing and have dismissed the claim as baseless provocation from a disgruntled billionaire.
But Musk shows no signs of backing down. The feud has already triggered ripple effects across Capitol Hill, with Republican lawmakers publicly defending Trump’s budget and calling Musk’s “Kill the Bill” campaign a direct assault on America’s agenda.
Meanwhile, with Musk’s future business with the government in jeopardy, the next moves by both camps could have major consequences for tech policy, defense contracts, and even political fundraising.
One thing is certain: this isn’t just a clash of personalities—it’s a full-scale war between two of the most powerful forces in American politics and business. And neither side looks ready to blink.
