Tensions over the Republican spending bill became public as the relationship between the president and his former adviser soured. In a dramatic social media exchange on Thursday, Elon Musk called for Donald Trump's impeachment and criticized his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This came after Trump threatened to cancel federal contracts and tax subsidies for Musk's companies.
Their previously close alliance deteriorated quickly, with both men exchanging personal insults on significant and trivial matters. The conflict intensified over Musk's criticism of a Republican spending bill, which Trump had initially refrained from addressing directly.
In a particularly provocative moment, Musk suggested on X that the Trump administration had withheld Epstein-related documents because they implicated the president. He added that Trump's tariffs could lead to a recession. Musk stated, "Time to drop the really big bomb: Donald Trump is in the Epstein files," following Trump's threat to cut subsidies that would save "billions."
This bizarre escalation highlighted the transactional nature of their relationship, despite the White House portraying them as ideologically aligned. Ashley St Clair, a right-wing writer and the mother of Musk's 14th child, chimed in, offering breakup advice to Trump.
Tesla shares dropped nearly 15% on Thursday afternoon, coinciding with Trump's remarks. While SpaceX is not publicly traded, its competitors saw gains.
For weeks, Musk had expressed discontent with the budget bill, criticizing it as a "disgusting abomination" and pointing out that it would add US$2.4 trillion to the deficit over the next decade. Trump, in the Oval Office, mocked Musk's appearance and questioned his complaints about the bill, suggesting Musk's issues arose only when he learned the bill wouldn't benefit Tesla.
Musk quickly retaliated, accusing Trump of lying and expressing ingratitude for the millions Musk had spent to support his election campaign. "Without me, Trump would have lost the election," Musk wrote, emphasizing his role in Trump's victory.
The feud escalated further when Trump claimed he had fired Musk as a special adviser, to which Musk responded, "Such an obvious lie. So sad." Shortly after, Musk tweeted about Epstein, insinuating Trump's involvement in a child abuse ring, despite his own past connections to Epstein.
This public fallout follows a partnership that many had not anticipated lasting, as Musk had invested heavily in Trump's re-election efforts.
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