TL;DR
- Musk slams the “One Big Beautiful Bill” as a “disgusting abomination,” calling out its fiscal damage
- Trump retaliates, threatening to revoke EV mandates, subsidies, and contracts for Musk-owned companies
- Feud plays out publicly, highlighting their fractured alliance and political fallout
Once allies, Elon Musk and Donald Trump are now embroiled in a public spat on X and Truth Social over Trump’s sweeping legislation. Their feud spans policy disputes, personal vendettas, and dramatic public exchanges.
The Collapse of a Tech–Political Alliance
Previously seen together at Mar‑a‑Lago, Musk was instrumental in establishing the Department of Government Efficiency under Trump. Their relationship unraveled following the House’s passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on May 22, 2025. Trump’s subsequent withdrawal of Musk’s pick for NASA only deepened the rift,until this week’s explosive exchanges.
Musk’s X Post: A Public Breakup Letter
On June 3, Musk posted on X denouncing the bill as:
“This massive, outrageous, pork‑filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination.”
He slammed lawmakers, warned of a looming constitutional crisis, and ignited backlash from fiscal hawks.
CBO Numbers Reveal Severity
The Congressional Budget Office projects the bill will cut taxes by $3.7 trillion, but add $2.4 trillion to the deficit over 10 years and result in 10.9 million more uninsured Americans by 2034.
Trump Pushes Back Aggressively
Trump struck back, claiming Musk only opposed the bill after learning of proposed EV mandate cuts:
“He only developed a problem when he found out that we’re going to have to cut the EV mandate. That’s billions and billions of dollars.”
He also threatened in a Truth Social post to terminate Musk’s government contracts and subsidies .
Bill Stats & Political Fallout
| Item | Details |
| Tax Cuts | $3.7 trillion |
| Deficit Increase Over 10 Years | $2.4 trillion |
| Uninsured by 2034 | #ERROR! |
| EV Mandate Cuts | Targeted by Trump |
| Musk Political Donations | ~$300 million (2024 campaign) |
| Public Role | Musk stepped away from DOGE on May 30, 2025 |
CBO report, Reuters coverage, Bloomberg on Musk–Trump feud)
Trump’s Retort: Hitting Back at Musk
Trump posted on Truth Social:
- “Elon was ‘wearing thin,’ I asked him to leave… and he just went CRAZY!”
- He threatened to terminate Musk’s EV mandates, subsidies, and government contracts, claiming it could save “billions and billions of dollars.”
Trump also said Musk only flipped once he realized the bill would remove EV incentives.
The Policy Clash: EV Mandates vs. Deficit Discipline
Musk warned that revoking EV incentives could:
- Trigger a recession in late 2025
- Hurt Tesla and SpaceX businesses
- Draw fire from policymakers critical of the deficit
Trump accused Musk of influencing the 2024 election and threatened to cut his federal contracts:
“The easiest way to save money… is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts.”
Musk responded that Trump only won with his help,“Without me, Trump would have lost the election”,and even hinted at decommissioning SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft in response .
Wider Fallout: Tech Community and Industry Response
This feud has shaken Silicon Valley:
- Tech leaders like Zuckerberg, Pichai, Bezos, Cook, and Altman historically donated to Trump’s inauguration but now watch the fallout unfold
- The spat has sparked memes, popcorn emojis, and escalating public drama across X and Truth Social
Its implications span policy, corporate strategy, and public trust for tech companies vying for government partnerships and subsidies.
What Happens Next?
With the bill in the Senate and deep splits in the GOP,including Senators Rand Paul and Mike Lee protesting due to the debt ceiling increase,Musk’s criticism bolsters the case against passage .
Meanwhile:
- Trump could follow through on threats to revoke incentives, raising costs for Musk-linked companies
- Musk may further oppose Trump, including calls for impeachment
- The White House maintains support for the bill, calling Musk’s views irrelevant
Conclusion: Alliances Shift in 21st‑Century Politics
What began as a high‑profile friendship,fueled by shared policy aims and political funding, has unraveled into a public policy and personal feud. Their clash mirrors broader tensions in U.S. governance: aligning economic stimulus, deficits and environmental priorities.
