A political and financial alliance once viewed as a cornerstone of the MAGA movement crumbled on Thursday when President Donald Trump and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk engaged in a very public war of words, marking a dramatic end to their partnership.
Tax Bill Sparks Rift
The fallout began when Elon Musk criticized Trump’s latest tax and spending bill on social media platform X, calling it a “disgusting abomination” and warning it would worsen the national deficit. Trump swiftly responded from the Oval Office, labeling Musk’s comments as a betrayal and threatening to cut off federal contracts to Musk’s companies, including Tesla and SpaceX.
The markets reacted instantly. Tesla stock plunged 14% in a single day, wiping out $152 billion in market value—its sharpest single-day loss since the company went public.
War of Words Escalates
Musk retaliated online, claiming that “Without me, Donald Trump would have lost the election,” and made an unsubstantiated reference to Trump’s alleged appearance in Jeffrey Epstein’s files. While Trump avoided directly responding to those remarks, he fired back, calling Musk “crazy” and accusing him of overreacting to the removal of electric vehicle tax credits from the legislation.
Once Allies, Now Adversaries
The public confrontation marks the collapse of a once-powerful partnership. Musk had donated over $250 million to Trump’s 2024 re-election campaign and briefly served as a special employee within the Office of Government Ethics (OGE). Just a week earlier, Musk had resigned from his position at DOGE and had appeared alongside Trump during a May 30 Oval Office press conference.
The new bill, opposed by Musk, underscores growing ideological fissures between Trump’s populist agenda and Musk’s tech-centric, fiscally conservative vision.
Reactions from Both Camps
Political figures and commentators quickly weighed in. Ashley St. Clair, the mother of Musk’s 14th child, publicly offered Trump “breakup advice,” while conservative activist Laura Loomer dubbed the split a “big beautiful breakup.” Former Trump strategist Steve Bannon criticized Musk’s influence, saying, “Musk has money, but Trump has MAGA,” reinforcing the idea that the MAGA base still remains firmly loyal to Trump.
On the other side, Democrats took the opportunity to celebrate the rift. Rep. Eric Garcia called it a “schadenfreude moment” for those opposed to both figures, though others urged caution in overstating its significance.
What This Means for Trump’s Agenda
Musk’s departure from Trump’s inner circle could complicate the President’s legislative ambitions. As Musk steps up lobbying efforts, fiscally conservative Republicans such as Sen. Ron Johnson may be swayed, potentially jeopardizing key votes.
With Tesla stock down 30% year-to-date and SpaceX’s federal contracts under threat, both men now face serious political and financial challenges. Meanwhile, social media exploded with memes and commentary mocking the very public collapse of the Trump-Musk alliance.
A Movement at a Crossroads
The fallout symbolizes more than just a personal feud—it reflects the deepening divide within the MAGA movement. As Trump doubles down on populist policy and Musk leans toward libertarian-leaning reform, the breakup may usher in a new chapter in right-wing American politics, one without the unity that once bound it.
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