Trump–Musk feud

{{Excerpt|Views of Elon Musk|Donald Trump|paragraphs=1|only=paragraphs}}

{{Excerpt|Views of Elon Musk|2022 feud|only=paragraphs|paragraphs=1,2}}

{{See also|Political activities of Elon Musk|}}

Cash crunched by more than $50 million in legal fees, the Trump campaign met with Musk and other donors in March 2024; Musk denied helping Trump, and said he was leaning toward Biden. Trump declared having helped Musk in the past. Musk created the America Super PAC on May 22.{{Cite news |first1=Nnamdi |last1=Egwuonwu |year=2025 |title=Trump-Musk political relationship: A summary and timeline |work=NBC News |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-musk-summary-timeline-political-relationship-rcna211453 |access-date=9 June 2025 |archive-date=June 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250609054533/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-musk-summary-timeline-political-relationship-rcna211453 |url-status=live }} Musk publicly endorsed Trump after the July 13 Butler assassination attempt.{{Cite news| last = Bond| first = Shannon| title = From bromance to breakup: How Elon Musk and Donald Trump blew up| work = NPR| access-date = 2025-06-09| date = 2025-06-05| url = https://www.npr.org/2025/06/05/nx-s1-5424686/donald-trump-elon-musk-bromance-breakup| archive-date = June 8, 2025| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250608113853/https://www.npr.org/2025/06/05/nx-s1-5424686/donald-trump-elon-musk-bromance-breakup| url-status = live}} Musk hosted an X live stream on August 12 with Trump, in which he floated the idea of a "government efficiency commission".{{cite news| last1=Sullivan| first1=Kate| last2=Duffy| first2=Clare| last3=Bradner| first3=Eric| title=Trump and Musk host friendly conversation on X after delay from technical difficulties| url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/08/12/politics/elon-trump-twitter-interview-x/index.html| publisher=CNN| date=13 August 2024| access-date=27 February 2025| quote=Musk at one point suggested Trump should form a new presidential commission focused on "government efficiency" and appoint him to it. Trump immediately replied, "I'd love it."}}{{cite web| title=LISTEN: Donald J. Trump's space| url=https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1823144316014911820| website=x.com| date=13 August 2024| access-date=27 February 2025| quote=MUSK: I think it would be great to just have a government efficiency commission that takes a look at these things and just ensures that the taxpayer money, the taxpayers hard-earned money is spent in a good way. I'd be happy to help out on such a commission [...] TRUMP: I'd love it. (1hr49m58s)| archive-date=May 14, 2025| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250514055106/https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1823144316014911820| url-status=live}}{{Cite web| title = Elon Musk and Donald Trump Interview| access-date = 2025-03-01| url = https://www.rev.com/transcripts/elon-musk-and-donald-trump-interview}} Musk ended up contributing over {{USD|290}} million to Trump's presidential campaign.{{Cite web |last1=Wright |first1=David |last2=Leeds-Matthews |first2=Alex |date=February 1, 2025 |title=Elon Musk spent more than $290 million on the 2024 election, year-end FEC filings show |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/01/politics/elon-musk-2024-election-spending-millions/index.html |access-date=February 14, 2025 |publisher=CNN |archive-date=February 13, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250213170830/https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/01/politics/elon-musk-2024-election-spending-millions/index.html |url-status=live }}

{{See also|Department of Government Efficiency}}

In the Trump administration, Musk led the Department of Government Efficiency in an effort to slash regulations, cut expenditures, and restructure federal agencies.{{Cite web |last=Picchi |first=Aimee |date=2024-11-14 |title=What to know about Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-department-of-government-efficiency-doge-elon-musk-ramaswamy/ |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=CBS News |quote=Trump announced the DOGE in a statement on Tuesday, describing it as an effort to "slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies." |archive-date=November 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241117233859/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-department-of-government-efficiency-doge-elon-musk-ramaswamy/ |url-status=live }} He served as a special government employee, limiting his tenure to 130 days.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-29 |title=Elon Musk bids farewell to White House but says Doge will continue |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz9y4exj822o |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=BBC News}}

Musk played a prominent role in campaigning during the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court election, spending at least {{USD|23}} million through political action committees. His role in the election was a political liability for Brad Schimel.{{Cite web| last = McCormick| first = John| title = Wisconsin Was Beginning of End for the Trump-Musk Relationship| work = WSJ| access-date = 2025-06-09| url = https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/trump-elon-musk-feud/card/wisconsin-was-beginning-of-end-for-the-trump-musk-relationship-ZngLdk7xTAN4fTSFiYjR| archive-date = June 6, 2025| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250606082049/https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/trump-elon-musk-feud/card/wisconsin-was-beginning-of-end-for-the-trump-musk-relationship-ZngLdk7xTAN4fTSFiYjR| url-status = live}} CBS News observed that Trump stopped posting about Musk by April, when he posted about six times a week before.{{Cite web |date=2025-06-01 |title=Elon Musk on DOGE and why he doesn't want to "take responsibility for everything the administration's doing" |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/elon-musk-on-doge-trump-administration-and-responsibility-for-cuts/ |access-date=2025-06-09 |website=CBS News}}

Musk told investors in the April 22 Tesla earnings call that he would spend less time on DOGE going forward.{{Cite web |last1=Korte |first1=Gregory |last2=Dlouhy |first2=Jennifer |last3=Hull |first3=Dana |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-29/musk-departs-doge-leaving-cost-cutting-effort-s-legacy-in-doubt |title=Musk Departs US Government With His Business Empire in Flux |date=May 28, 2025 |publisher=Bloomberg News |access-date=June 5, 2025}} During an interview at the 2025 Qatar Economic Forum on May 20, Musk told that he would scale back political spending.{{Cite web| last = Husain| first = Mishal| title = Elon Musk on Political Spending: 'I Think I've Done Enough'| access-date = 2025-06-17| date = 2025-05-21| url = https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2025-elon-musk-weekend-interview/}}

Trump celebrated Musk in an Oval Office farewell ceremony on May 30.{{Cite web| title = WATCH: Trump praises Musk for delivering 'colossal change' to Washington| work = PBS News| access-date = 2025-06-17| date = 2025-05-30| url = https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-trump-and-musk-hold-news-briefing-as-billionaire-leaves-white-house-advisor-role}}{{Cite magazine| last = Popli| first = Nik| title = What Musk's Exit Means for DOGE and the Trump Administration| magazine = TIME| access-date = 2025-06-09| date = 2025-05-29| url = https://time.com/7289870/elon-musk-trump-leaving-administration-doge/}} The New York Times reported that, immediately after reporters left, Trump confronted Musk over political donations made to Democrats by Jared Isaacman, a Musk ally who was Trump's nominee administrator of NASA. Trump informed Isaacman hours later that his nomination was being withdrawn.{{Cite web |last1=Pager |first1=Tyler |last2=Haberman |first2=Maggie |last3=Swan |first3=Jonathan |last4=Schleifer |first4=Theodore |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/06/us/politics/trump-musk-split-nasa.html |title=Buildup to a Meltdown: How the Trump-Musk Alliance Collapsed |date=June 6, 2025 |author-link2=Maggie Haberman |author-link3=Jonathan Swan |work=The New York Times |access-date=June 6, 2025}}

In a CBS interview on May 27, Musk criticized the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed by the Congress on May 22;{{Cite web| title = House passes Trump's "big, beautiful bill" in razor-thin vote after dramatic all-night session - CBS News| access-date = 2025-06-17| date = 2025-05-22| url = https://www.cbsnews.com/news/house-vote-trump-tax-bill/}} Musk argued that it increased the deficit and undermined DOGE's work.{{Cite web |last1=Pogue |first1=David |last2=Walsh |first2=Joe |date=May 27, 2025 |title=Elon Musk says he's "disappointed" by Trump's "big, beautiful bill" and what it means for DOGE |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/elon-musk-disappointed-by-trump-big-beautiful-bill-doge/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250608210431/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/elon-musk-disappointed-by-trump-big-beautiful-bill-doge/ |archive-date=June 8, 2025 |access-date=June 9, 2025 |website=CBS News |url-status=live }} Musk began his offboarding the next day. During an Oval Office sendoff on May 30, Trump said that Musk was "not really leaving" the White House.{{Cite web| title = Trump and Musk: The 10 days that unravelled their relationship| access-date = 2025-06-10| date = 2025-06-06| url = https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyr7v79q4yo| archive-date = June 8, 2025| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250608200336/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyr7v79q4yo| url-status = live}}

On June 3 at 15:32, Musk warned bill supporters: "In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people".{{Cite web| title = Elon Musk goes on a warpath against Trump and the GOP| work = POLITICO| access-date = 2025-06-12| date = 2025-06-06| url = https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/06/elon-musk-gop-donald-trump-midterms-00391246}} Three hours later, he called the "pork-filled" bill a "disgusting abomination". In the next two days, Musk continued, asking for a bill that does not increase the debt ceiling, saying that bankrupting America was not acceptable, and asking to "KILL the BILL".

Republicans' endorsement of the bill did not seem to budge.{{Cite web |last=Wasson |first=Erik |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-06/republicans-push-musk-aside-as-trump-tax-bill-barrels-forward |title=Republicans Push Musk Aside as Trump Tax Bill Barrels Forward |date=June 6, 2025 |publisher=Bloomberg News |access-date=June 6, 2025}}

File:President Trump's comments on Elon Musk during his meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office; June 2025.webm in the Oval Office; June 2025.]]

Shortly before noon, Trump sat with German chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office and answered journalists' questions for more than 40 minutes on live TV.{{Cite web| last = Andrews| first = Annie Linskey, Josh Dawsey and Natalie| title = The Day That Trump and Musk Torched Their Partnership| work = WSJ| access-date = 2025-06-10| url = https://www.wsj.com/politics/elon-musk-trump-fight-gop-bill-c2e0be66 |archive-url=http://archive.today/2025.06.07-095658/https://www.wsj.com/politics/elon-musk-trump-fight-gop-bill-c2e0be66 |archive-date=June 7, 2025}} When asked about Musk's criticism of the bill, Trump said that he was "disappointed" because he "always liked Elon", that Musk was critical because of the cuts to electric vehicle subsidies, and that he would have won Pennsylvania without him. While the interview went on, Musk fired back that Trump could keep his subsidies as long as the bill was "slim and beautiful". Trump also said Musk knew the bill "better than anybody" and that his Washington nostalgia may have turned to derangement; Musk responded that he was never shown the bill, that Trump would have lost the election if not for him, and ended with "such ingratitude".{{Cite news| issn = 0362-4331| last1 = Frostenson| first1 = Sarah| last2 = Gamio| first2 = Lazaro| title = Read the Insults Hurled Between Trump and Musk| work = The New York Times| access-date = 2025-06-10| date = 2025-06-06| url = https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/06/05/us/politics/elon-musk-trump-feud-timeline-posts.html |archive-url=http://archive.today/2025.06.07-125708/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/06/05/us/politics/elon-musk-trump-feud-timeline-posts.html |archive-date=June 7, 2025}}

Later Musk re-shared 2012–13 posts he found hours earlier in which Trump and various Republicans were chastising Congress on deficits.{{Cite web |first1=Clare |last1=Duffy |last2 = O'Kruk |first2=Amy | title = Timeline of Elon Musk and Donald Trump's feud |work=CNN |access-date=2025-06-13| date=2025-06-05 |url=https://www.cnn.com/business/timeline-elon-musk-trump-x-dg}}

{{Tweet

| name = Elon Musk

| username = elonmusk

| date = June 5, 2025

| text = Is it time to create a new political party in America that actually represents the 80% in the middle? {{Bar box

| width = 300px

| barwidth = 200px

| bars = {{bar percent|Yes|#7CC5F6|80.4}}

{{bar percent|No|#7CC5F6|19.6}}

| caption = 5,630,775 votes · Final results

}}

| ID = 1930685402631053403

| image = Elon Musk Royal Society (crop2).jpg

| width = 340px

| float = right

| ref-name = Twitter-Poll-2025

| reference = {{Cite tweet |last=Musk |first=Elon |user=elonmusk |date=June 5, 2025 |title=Is it time to create a new political party in America that actually represents the 80% in the middle? |number=1930685402631053403 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250608021049/https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1930685402631053403 |archive-date=June 8, 2025 |access-date=June 9, 2025 |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine |last=Schneid |first=Rebecca |date=2025-06-07 |title=Is Musk Starting a New Political Party Amid Trump Feud? |url=https://time.com/7291937/elon-musk-new-political-party-the-america-party-idea/ |access-date=2025-06-09 |magazine=TIME |language=en |archive-date=June 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250609175844/https://time.com/7291937/elon-musk-new-political-party-the-america-party-idea/ |url-status=live }}

}}

In a tweet posted at 13:57, Musk floated the creation of a political party to represent the "eighty percent in the middle". Half an hour later, Musk replied to Laura Loomer that "Trump has 3.5 years left as President", but that he will be around for more than 40 years. With more than 80% of "yes" votes to his poll, Musk proposed at 18:07 to name the new hypothetical party "The America Party".

File:Elon Musk claims Donald Trump is in the Epstein Files.png]]

After the press conference, Trump turned to Truth Social to address the situation. He repeated that Musk went "CRAZY" about the "EV Mandate", which Musk immediately called a lie. Trump then threatened to cut Musk's government contracts.{{Cite web| last1=Linskey |first1=Annie |last2=Dawsey |first2=Josh |last3=Andrews |first3=Natalie |title = The Day That Trump and Musk Torched Their Partnership| work = WSJ| access-date = 2025-06-10| url = https://www.wsj.com/politics/elon-musk-trump-fight-gop-bill-c2e0be66}} In response, Musk alleged that Trump was in the Epstein files. Musk then stated that SpaceX was decommissioning its Dragon 2 spacecraft. Crew Dragon is the only operational American crewed vehicle capable of docking with the International Space Station, while Cargo Dragon and Cygnus operate American cargo missions to the station. Musk deleted the post shortly after it attracted attention, and later declared that the spacecraft would not be decommissioned while responding to an X user who advised him to "cool off".{{cite magazine |last1=Kluger |first1=Jeffrey |date=June 9, 2025 |title=What the Trump-Musk Feud Means for SpaceX and NASA |url=https://time.com/7292326/trump-musk-feud-spacex-nasa/ |access-date=9 June 2025 |magazine=Time |publisher= |archive-date=June 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250609213757/https://time.com/7292326/trump-musk-feud-spacex-nasa/ |url-status=live }} Two minutes later, Musk called for a third Trump impeachment.{{Cite web |last=Suter |first=Tara |date=June 5, 2025 |title=Musk backs call to impeach Trump, replace him with Vance |url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/5335725-elon-musk-trump-impeachment/ |access-date=June 10, 2025 |website=The Hill |archive-date=June 10, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250610010241/https://thehill.com/policy/technology/5335725-elon-musk-trump-impeachment/ |url-status=live }}

Musk ended his barrage of tweets by reiterating that tariffs would cause a recession in the second half of 2025.

Later that evening, Musk responded to hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman's plea that the country was stronger when Musk and Trump were allies, saying he was not wrong. Politico reported that Musk and Trump were scheduled to be on a call to reconcile.{{Cite web |last=Burns |first=Dasha |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/05/trump-white-house-aides-signal-a-possible-detente-with-musk-00391502 |title=Trump, White House aides signal a possible détente with Musk |date=June 5, 2025 |work=Politico |access-date=June 5, 2025}}

Musk unfollowed the Twitter accounts of Stephen Miller, Trump's deputy chief of staff for policy and his homeland security advisor;{{Cite web |last1=Klein |first1=Betsy |last2=Gold |first2=Hadas |last3=Holmes |first3=Kristen |last4=Gangel |first4=Jaime |date=2025-06-07 |title=The Millers: Washington power couple straddles Trump-Musk feud |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/07/politics/stephen-miller-katie-miller-musk-trump-meltdown |access-date=2025-06-09 |work=CNN}} he also unfollowed Charlie Kirk, a conservative influencer;{{Cite magazine| issn = 0028-6583| title = Elon Musk Is Spiraling Over Trump Dumping Him on Live TV| magazine = The New Republic| access-date = 2025-06-11| url = https://newrepublic.com/post/196209/elon-musk-spiraling-donald-trump-dumped| archive-date = June 11, 2025| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250611194147/https://newrepublic.com/post/196209/elon-musk-spiraling-donald-trump-dumped| url-status = live}} the two men appeared on Kirk's show to praise the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Late in the night of June 5, Musk approved of a tweet stating that the two main parties have no political will to reduce the national debt. Early on June 6, Trump told ABC News that Musk had "lost his mind" and that he was not interested in speaking to Musk, and repeated in a CNN interview that he won't be speaking to him in the near future.{{Cite news |last=Bash |first=Dana |date=June 6, 2025 |title=Trump tells CNN he's 'not even thinking about Elon' and won't speak to him 'for a while' |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/06/politics/donald-trump-elon-musk-rift |access-date=June 7, 2025 |work=CNN}} The White House later stated that no call between Trump and Musk was planned.{{Cite web| title = Trump not interested in talking to Musk, says official| website = RTÉ.ie| access-date = 2025-06-11| url = https://www.rte.ie/news/us/2025/0606/1516985-donald-trump-elon-musk/| archive-date = June 7, 2025| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250607110054/https://www.rte.ie/news/us/2025/0606/1516985-donald-trump-elon-musk/| url-status = live}} A White House official later said that Trump was considering selling the red Tesla Model S he received from Musk.{{Cite web |last=Mangan |first=Dan |date=2025-06-06 |title=Trump considers getting rid of his Tesla on heels of Elon Musk feud |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/06/trump-tesla-musk-feud.html |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=CNBC |language=en}}

According to Bloomberg News, Trump aides signaled that Trump was moving on and that he would not cancel Musk's government contracts.{{Cite web| title = Aides Signal Trump Moving on From Musk Feud, But May Ditch Tesla - Bloomberg| website = Bloomberg News| access-date = 2025-06-11| url = https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-06/aides-signal-trump-moving-on-from-musk-feud-but-may-ditch-tesla| archive-date = June 7, 2025| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250607162459/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-06/aides-signal-trump-moving-on-from-musk-feud-but-may-ditch-tesla| url-status = live}} The Washington Post reported that Trump tried to explain Musk's behavior by saying he was a "big-time drug addict".{{Cite news| title = Trump calls Musk 'big-time drug addict' according to report, as feud shows no sign of ending |work= The Independent| access-date = 2025-06-11| url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-elon-musk-drug-addict-feud-b2766051.html}}{{Cite news| issn = 0190-8286| last1 = Zakrzewski| first1 = Cat| last2 = Allison| first2 = Natalie| last3 = Dwoskin| first3 = Elizabeth| last4 = Stein| first4 = Jeff| last5 = Davies| first5 = Emily| title = Inside the battles that shattered Trump and Musk's alliance| newspaper = The Washington Post| access-date = 2025-06-11| date = 2025-06-07| url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/06/07/trump-elon-musk-fight-behind-scenes/ |archive-url=https://archive.ph/wfs5j |archive-date=June 8, 2025}}

Dmitry Novikov told TASS that Russia could offer Musk political asylum, but that he would not need any.{{Cite web| last = Quadri| first = Sami| title = Russia offers Elon Musk political asylum after public feud with Donald Trump| work = The Standard| access-date = 2025-06-07| date = 2025-06-06| url = https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/russia-offers-elon-musk-political-asylum-feud-trump-b1231652.html| archive-date = June 7, 2025| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250607060731/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/russia-offers-elon-musk-political-asylum-feud-trump-b1231652.html| url-status = live}}

Musk reached out to the White House Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles and Vice-President JD Vance to announce a halt to his criticism of the President and to explore a possible mending of the relationship with the President.{{Cite news |last1=Swan |first1=Jonathan |last2=Schleifer |first2=Theodore |date=2025-06-11 |title=Musk Called Trump Privately Before Posting Message of 'Regret' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/11/us/politics/musk-trump.html |access-date=2025-06-11 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}

In a morning interview with NBC News on June 7, Trump stated that he did not wish to reconcile with Musk, and added that Musk would face 'very serious consequences' if he funded Democrats.{{Cite web |last1=Welker |first1=Kristen |last2=Marquez |first2=Alexandra |date=2025-06-07 |title=Trump says Elon Musk will face 'very serious consequences' if he funds Democratic candidates |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-elon-musk-consequences-funds-democratic-candidates-rcna211605 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250608020114/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-elon-musk-consequences-funds-democratic-candidates-rcna211605 |archive-date=June 8, 2025 |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=NBC News}} Trump also mentioned having saved Musk's life during his first administration.{{Cite news| title = Trump warns Musk would face 'consequences' if he helps Democratic candidates| work = PBS News| access-date = 2025-06-17| date = 2025-06-07| url = https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/vance-says-musk-making-a-huge-mistake-for-attacking-trump-on-social-media |quote="I gave him a lot of breaks, long before this happened, I gave him breaks in my first administration, and saved his life in my first administration, I have no intention of speaking to him."}}

In an interview with Theo Von aired on June 7 but recorded on June 5,{{Cite web| last = Schneid| first = Rebecca| title = J.D. Vance Speaks Out After He's Dragged Into Trump-Musk Row| work = TIME| access-date = 2025-06-17| date = 2025-06-06| url = https://time.com/7291609/trump-musk-fall-out-jd-vance-response/ |quote=Musk also acknowledged an X post from Vance, sharing a laughing emoji in response to the Vice President's commentary that it had been a "slow news day." Revealing he was sitting down with popular podcaster Theo Vaughn for an interview, Vance quipped: "What are we even going to talk about?"}} JD Vance said that he will always stand by Trump's side, that Musk made a huge mistake, and that he wished Musk returned "into the fold".{{Cite web |date=2025-06-07 |title=JD Vance's live reaction to Musk's Epstein tweet about Trump on Theo Von podcast |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/jd-vance-musk-epstein-tweet-theo-von-b2765691.html |access-date=2025-06-17 |work=The Independent}} Vance also conceded that the bill "wasn't perfect".{{Cite web| last = Timotija| first = Filip| title = JD Vance says loyalty lies with Donald Trump amid Elon Musk feud| work = The Hill| format = Text| access-date = 2025-06-17| date = 2025-06-07| url = https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5338369-jd-vance-elon-musk-donald-trump-feud/}}

By the morning, several tweets were deleted from Musk's account: the Epstein accusation, the call to impeachment, and the claim that Trump would not have won without his help.{{Cite news| title = Musk appears to delete X posts claiming Trump was in Epstein files| work = ABC News| access-date = 2025-06-13| url = https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/musk-appears-delete-posts-claiming-trump-epstein-files/story?id=122609304}}{{Cite web| last = Schneid| first = Rebecca| title = Musk's Allegation Against Trump Is Deleted From Social Media| work = TIME| access-date = 2025-06-21| date = 2025-06-07| url = https://time.com/7291898/elon-musk-donald-trump-epstein-files-allegation-deleted-post/}}

Two days later, during ongoing protests in Los Angeles, Musk deleted his posts calling for Trump's impeachment and praised the Trump administration's actions towards the protesters. During a press conference the same day, Trump also shifted his stance on Musk saying, "We had a good relationship, I wish him well, very well".{{Cite web |last=Gold |first=Hadas |date=2025-06-09 |title=LA protests inch Elon Musk back to President Trump |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/09/media/elon-musk-donald-trump-la-protests |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=CNN}}

Late evening the President took a call from Musk, which led the following day to a public admission of regret. Both declined to comment further on their relationship.{{Cite web |last=Samuels |first=Brett |date=2025-06-11 |title=Trump, Musk spoke ahead of 'regret' post amid reconciliation talk |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5344824-donald-trump-elon-musk-conversation-post-feud/ |access-date=2025-06-11 |work=The Hill |format=Text}} Musk also appeared to have followed Miller back again.

It was reported that on the night of June 10, Musk had a private phone call with Trump, where he expressed remorse for attacking Trump.{{Cite web |last=Garrison |first=Joey |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/06/11/musk-called-trump-before-public-apology/84154529007/ |title=Elon Musk called Donald Trump before expressing 'regret' for harsh attacks |website=USA Today |date=June 11, 2025 |access-date=June 14, 2025}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/musk-called-trump-monday-white-house-source-says-2025-06-11/ |title=Musk called Trump before expressing regret publicly, source says |website=Reuters |date=June 12, 2025 |access-date=June 14, 2025}}

The following day, Musk publicly stated via Twitter that he regretted some of his posts about Trump for having "went too far".{{Cite news |last1=Martínez |first1=Andrés R. |last2=Satariano |first2=Adam |date=2025-06-11 |title=Musk Expresses 'Regret' Over His Criticisms of Trump |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/11/business/elon-musk-trump-feud.html |access-date=2025-06-11 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=June 11, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250611112555/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/11/business/elon-musk-trump-feud.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite tweet |number=1932695486684950962 |user=elonmusk |title=I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far. |first=Elon |last=Musk |access-date=June 11, 2025}} Trump described Musk's apology as "very nice".{{Cite news |date=June 11, 2025 |title=Musk says some of his posts about Trump 'went too far' |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/musk-says-he-regrets-some-posts-he-made-about-trump-2025-06-11/ |access-date=2025-06-11 |work=Reuters}}

On June 18, Musk lashed out at Sergio Gor, an ally of the Trump family who led the Right for America super PAC, calling his real identity into question, and calling him a "snake".{{Cite web| title = 'He's a snake': Musk jabs at Trump adviser who fueled messy presidential breakup| work = POLITICO| access-date = 2025-06-21| date = 2025-06-19| url = https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/19/musk-sergio-gor-feud-00414246}} Senate Republicans hold Gor responsible for undermining the nomination of Isaacman at NASA.{{Cite web |last=Caputo |first=Marc |last2=Isenstadt |first2=Alex |last3=Kight |first3=Stef W. |date=2025-06-06 |title=The White House adviser who fueled the Trump-Musk NASA feud |url=https://www.axios.com/2025/06/06/trump-musk-feud-nasa-white-house-aide |access-date=2025-06-21 |work=Axios}}

On June 5, Musk lost an estimated {{USD|34}} billion.{{Cite web| title = Elon Musk's Wealth Plunges Amid Trump Feud, Tesla Stock Drop - Bloomberg| website = Bloomberg News| access-date = 2025-06-11| url = https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-05/elon-musk-net-worth-trump-feud-slams-tesla-slashes-34-billion-from-fortune |archive-url=https://archive.ph/gxxpJ |archive-date=June 6, 2025}} This is the second biggest loss in history, after Musk's 2021 loss.{{Cite web| last = Malley| first = Blaise| title = Elon Musk suffers one of the largest wealth losses ever as Trump feud escalates| work = Salon| access-date = 2025-06-11| date = 2025-06-06| url = https://www.salon.com/2025/06/06/elon-musk-suffers-one-of-the-largest-wealth-losses-ever-as-feud-escalates/}}{{Cite news| title = Elon Musk's drop in fortunes breaks world record| access-date = 2025-06-11| date = 2023-01-11| url = https://www.bbc.com/news/business-64236726| archive-date = October 2, 2024| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241002164658/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-64236726| url-status = live}} Shares in Tesla, Inc. fell fifteen percent, its worst day since the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web| title = Tesla shares hit as Trump-Musk feud explodes| access-date = 2025-06-09| date = 2025-06-05| url = https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy902rv7q8do}} Trading volumes for Tesla put options exceeded four million contracts, the highest on record.{{Cite web| title = Tesla Investors Take Cover| access-date = 2025-06-11| url = https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/trump-elon-musk-feud/card/tesla-investors-take-cover-PRdS9f9jSoiTyorysx1t}} TSLA short sellers ended their day raking {{USD|4}} billion.{{Cite web| title = Tesla short sellers pocket about $4 billion in profits after Musk-Trump spat | work = Reuters| access-date = 2025-06-11| url = https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/tesla-short-sellers-pocket-about-4-billion-profits-after-musk-trump-spat-2025-06-06/ |archive-url=https://archive.ph/YUVk0 |archive-date=June 6, 2025}}

Trump Media & Technology Group shares fell eight percent.{{Cite news| first1=Siladitya |last1=Ray |title = Trump-Musk Feud Fallout: DJT Fell 8% As Trump's Fortune Slides By $200M| access-date = 2025-06-11| url = https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2025/06/06/not-just-tesla-trump-medias-shares-also-slid-amid-trump-musk-feud/ |work=Forbes |archive-url=https://archive.ph/TwEbh |archive-date=June 6, 2025}}

The feud has risked {{USD|100}} million in political donations to Trump-affiliated organizations that Musk was set to give.{{Cite news |last1=Schleifer |first1=Theodore |date=June 5, 2025 |title=Elon Musk still holds a bit of leverage over President Trump. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06/05/us/trump-elon-musk/cef7c8ea-3ebd-597a-9f33-f2261c351d77 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250606193914/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06/05/us/trump-elon-musk/cef7c8ea-3ebd-597a-9f33-f2261c351d77 |archive-date=June 6, 2025 |access-date=June 5, 2025 |work=The New York Times}} The dispute also threatened a {{USD|5}} billion debt sale for Musk's xAI.{{Cite web| last = Rudegeair| first = Alexander Saeedy and Peter| title = Musk's xAI Is Trying to Borrow $5 Billion While His Relationship With Trump Blows Up| work = WSJ| access-date = 2025-06-11| date = 2025-06-07| url = https://www.wsj.com/finance/musks-xai-is-trying-to-borrow-5-billion-while-his-relationship-with-trump-blows-up-4b963361| archive-date = June 8, 2025| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250608223858/https://www.wsj.com/finance/musks-xai-is-trying-to-borrow-5-billion-while-his-relationship-with-trump-blows-up-4b963361| url-status = live}}

The feud left Silicon Valley divided.{{Cite magazine| title = Silicon Valley Is Starting to Pick Sides in Musk and Trump's Breakup| magazine = Wired| access-date = 2025-06-11| url = https://www.wired.com/story/musk-trump-feud-venture-capitalists-pick-sides/| last1 = Goode| first1 = Lauren| archive-date = June 9, 2025| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250609200427/https://www.wired.com/story/musk-trump-feud-venture-capitalists-pick-sides/| url-status = live}} Musk's allies feared that other Silicon Valley figures who followed Musk into government could lose their positions, including David Sacks, Sriram Krishnan, and Michael Grimes.{{Cite news |last=Miller |first=Joe |last2=Rogers |first2=Alex |last3=Murphy |first3=Hannah |last4=Hammond |first4=George |date=2025-06-07 |title=Donald Trump and Elon Musk's allies urge reconciliation after damaging split |url=https://www.ft.com/content/df15f13d-310f-47a5-89ed-330a6a379068 |access-date=2025-06-18 |work=Financial Times}}

According to The Wall Street Journal, the feud raised hopes from advertisers that litigation against companies that have refused to advertise on Twitter would be eased, owing to lessened political weight.

On social media, comparisons between the feud and that in Mean Girls (2004), as well as the Drake–Kendrick Lamar feud, were made.{{Cite news| issn = 0971-8257| title = Drake vs Kendrick: Internet turns Musk-Trump fallout into 'Mean Girls' memes; calls it a 'beautiful breakup'| work = The Times of India| access-date = 2025-06-11| date = 2025-06-06| url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/drake-vs-kendrick-internet-turns-musk-trump-fallout-into-mean-girls-memes-calls-it-a-beautiful-breakup/articleshow/121662392.cms| archive-date = June 7, 2025| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250607154414/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/drake-vs-kendrick-internet-turns-musk-trump-fallout-into-mean-girls-memes-calls-it-a-beautiful-breakup/articleshow/121662392.cms| url-status = live}}

The dissolution of Musk and Trump's relationship was praised by some Make America Great Again followers.{{Cite news |last1=Allison |first1=Natalie |last2=Voght |first2=Kara |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/06/06/butterworths-trump-musk-feud-maga/ |title=The MAGA faithful celebrate the end of the Trump-Musk bromance |date=June 6, 2025 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=June 6, 2025 |archive-date=June 6, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250606093037/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/06/06/butterworths-trump-musk-feud-maga/ |url-status=live }} A YouGov survey indicated that most Republicans support Trump in the feud, while most Democrats were neutral.{{Cite web| last = Rubin| first = April| title = Most Republicans side with Trump over Musk: Poll| work = Axios| access-date = 2025-06-11| date = 2025-06-06| url = https://www.axios.com/2025/06/06/american-opinions-trump-musk-feud}} When asked to react to a statement from Musk on the GOP-backed spending bill, 56% said they agreed and 17% said they disagreed.{{Cite web| last = Rascius| first = Brendan| title = Is Elon Musk right to oppose the budget bill? What Americans said in a new poll| work = Biloxi Sun Herald| access-date = 2025-06-11| date = 2025-06-10| url = https://www.sunherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article308331310.html}}

Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer referenced "Bad Blood", a song by Taylor Swift believed to be about her feud with Katy Perry. House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries referred to the feud as a "GOP civil war". The Democratic Party's Twitter account called to "KILL THE BILL AND RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES!"{{Cite news| issn = 0971-8257| title = Trump-Musk feud: Democrats call for release of Epstein file; say 'kill the bill' after Tesla CEO's allegation| work = The Times of India| access-date = 2025-06-12| date = 2025-06-06| url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/trump-musk-feud-democrats-call-for-release-of-epstein-file-say-kill-the-bill-after-tesla-ceos-allegation/articleshow/121661193.cms| archive-date = June 7, 2025| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250607203210/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/trump-musk-feud-democrats-call-for-release-of-epstein-file-say-kill-the-bill-after-tesla-ceos-allegation/articleshow/121661193.cms| url-status = live}} On War Room, Steve Bannon warned that Musk could be "flipped" by Democrats.{{Cite web| title = Steve Bannon says Trump 'broke' tech bros Musk and Zuckerberg| work = The Independent| access-date = 2025-06-12| date = 2025-01-21| url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-billionaires-bannon-musk-zuckerberg-b2683521.html| archive-date = May 13, 2025| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250513003837/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-billionaires-bannon-musk-zuckerberg-b2683521.html| url-status = live}} Representative Ro Khanna argued that Democrats should court Musk.{{Cite web| last1 = Otterbein| first1 = Holly| last2 = Kashinsky| first2 = Lisa| last3 = Johansen| first3 = Ben| last4 = Cai| first4 = Sophia| title = Dems eye a villain-to-ally arc for Musk| work = POLITICO| access-date = 2025-06-12| date = 2025-06-11| url = https://www.politico.com/newsletters/west-wing-playbook-remaking-government/2025/06/04/dems-eye-a-villain-to-ally-arc-for-musk-00385945| archive-date = June 8, 2025| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250608010604/https://www.politico.com/newsletters/west-wing-playbook-remaking-government/2025/06/04/dems-eye-a-villain-to-ally-arc-for-musk-00385945| url-status = live}}

Steve Bannon, a former top advisor to Trump during his first presidential term, encouraged Trump to cancel Musk's federal contracts and investigate his immigration status.{{Cite news |last=Pager |first=Tyler |date=2025-06-05 |title=Steve Bannon Says He Told Trump to Investigate Musk as an 'Illegal Alien' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/05/us/steve-bannon-trump-elon-musk.html |access-date=2025-06-08 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}} This has led to the possibility of Musk being deported from the United States.{{Cite web |last1=Smith-Schoenwalder |first1=Cecelia |last2=Yelenik |first2=Marissa |date=June 6, 2025 |title=Could President Trump Deport Elon Musk? |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2025-06-06/steve-bannon-wants-donald-trump-to-deport-elon-musk-can-the-president-do-that |access-date=June 8, 2025 |website=US News |archive-date=June 7, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250607144751/https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2025-06-06/steve-bannon-wants-donald-trump-to-deport-elon-musk-can-the-president-do-that |url-status=live }}{{Cite web| last = Crisp| first = Elizabeth| title = Bannon: Musk should be 'deported from the country immediately'| work = The Hill| format = Text| access-date = 2025-06-08| date = 2025-06-05| url = https://thehill.com/homenews/5335724-trump-bannon-immigration-musk/| archive-date = June 8, 2025| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250608181740/https://thehill.com/homenews/5335724-trump-bannon-immigration-musk/| url-status = live}} After Bannon called for Trump to seize SpaceX with an executive order, Musk referred to him as a "communist retard".{{Cite magazine| issn = 0028-6583| title = Musk Lashes Out After Bannon Calls to Deport Him Amid Trump Fight| magazine = The New Republic| access-date = 2025-06-12| url = https://newrepublic.com/post/196228/elon-musk-steve-bannon-trump-fight-deport-space-x}} Democratic representatives Stephen Lynch and Robert Garcia sent a letter to attorney general Pam Bondi and Federal Bureau of Investigation director Kash Patel inquiring about Musk's allegation that Trump was present in government files on Epstein.{{Cite web| title = Is Trump Suppressing The Epstein Files? Task Force Ranking Member Garcia and Acting Ranking Member Lynch Demand the Truth for the American People {{!}} The Committee on Oversight and Accountability Democrats| access-date = 2025-06-12| date = 2025-06-05| url = http://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/news/press-releases/trump-suppressing-epstein-files-task-force-ranking-member-garcia-and-acting| archive-date = June 9, 2025| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250609170301/https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/news/press-releases/trump-suppressing-epstein-files-task-force-ranking-member-garcia-and-acting| url-status = live}}

Russian internet users compared the feud to the Wagner Group–Russian Ministry of Defence conflict, a dispute between Russia's Ministry of Defence and the oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin that led to the Wagner Group rebellion. Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of the Security Council, joked that he was willing to broker a truce between Musk and Trump.{{Cite web| title = Russia trolls Trump-Musk spat, floats peace deal and asylum for Musk| access-date = 2025-06-12| date = 2025-06-07| url = https://www.business-standard.com/world-news/trump-elon-musk-fight-russia-putin-dmitriev-starlink-grok-bannon-125060700220_1.html}}

Trump's focus on Musk during his meeting with Friedrich Merz was met with relief from several German commentators, who noted caustic meetings with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and South African president Cyril Ramaphosa.{{Cite web| title = Trump-Musk meltdown gets Europe gloating| work = POLITICO| access-date = 2025-06-12| date = 2025-06-06| url = https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-elon-musk-radoslaw-sikorski-thierry-breton/}}

• UniTeam – a political alliance in the Philippines that turned into a feud between the Marcos and Duterte political families
• Sara Duterte – Philippine vice president who issued an assassination threat against her former UniTeam ally President Bongbong Marcos

{{Reflist}}

{{Donald Trump}}

{{Second presidency of Donald Trump}}

{{Elon Musk}}

{{United States Department of Government Efficiency}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Musk Trump Feud}}

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