The escalating feud marks a stunning turn in a relationship that once saw the world's richest man play a key role in Trump's second-term administration and re-election effort. But what had been an uneasy partnership imploded this week in public, with blistering criticism exchanged across press conferences and social media platforms.
'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 on his Truth Social platform.
Trump's threat came as tensions boiled over following Musk's vocal opposition to a sweeping tax and spending bill championed by the president.
Musk, who previously led Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and donated nearly $300 million to support his campaign and GOP allies in 2024, responded sharply.
Just minutes after markets closed, following a staggering 14% drop in Tesla stock that erased over $150 billion in value, Musk replied 'Yes' to a post on his platform X that called for Trump's impeachment.
It was a previously unthinkable gesture, given the Republican Party's control of both chambers of Congress.
The rift had been building. Days earlier, Musk denounced Trump's legislation as a 'disgusting abomination' that would dangerously inflate the national debt, now at $36.2 trillion.
While Trump initially refrained from responding, he broke his silence Thursday during a press appearance with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, expressing "very disappointed" feelings about Musk.
'Look, Elon and I had a great relationship. I don't know if we will anymore,' Trump told reporters.
As the president spoke, Musk hit back on X, asserting: 'Without me, Trump would have lost the election.' He also accused Trump of 'ingratitude' and warned that the president's economic policies, including his signature tariffs, would push the U.S. into a recession.
Further inflaming tensions, Musk appeared to reference Trump's name in connection with the Jeffrey Epstein files in a cryptic post on X.
The files refer to recently unsealed court documents from a long-running case involving Epstein, a disgraced financier accused of running a sex trafficking ring involving underage girls.
The documents list names of high-profile individuals alleged to have had ties to Epstein. While Musk did not elaborate, the implication that Trump may be connected to the scandal added fuel to an already volatile exchange.
Meanwhile, the clash sent shockwaves through financial markets and the political landscape. Tesla's historic single-day stock plunge rattled investors, while lawmakers expressed concern about how the feud could impact the Republican Party's cohesion ahead of the midterms.
'Musk was a major player in the ground game last cycle,' one GOP strategist told Reuters. 'If he sits out the midtermsâ€"or worse, turns on usâ€"it's a huge problem.'
Musk's threats to decommission key assets from SpaceX, including the Dragon spacecraft used in NASA missions, also alarmed government agencies. Though he later walked back that statement, the uncertainty underscored how deeply intertwined Musk's companies are with federal operations.
From influence to isolation
Just last week, Trump had given Musk a ceremonial Oval Office send-off after his resignation from the Department of Government Efficiency. Yet behind the scenes, tensions had been growing, particularly after Trump rescinded the nomination of Musk ally Jared Isaacman to lead NASA.
According to White House aides, Musk had begun to lose influence within the administration even before the public fallout, as senior officials worked to curtail his control over staffing and budgeting.
While Trump now insists that Elon 'was wearing thin,' Musk's team has stayed mostly silent. A White House statement called the split 'an unfortunate episode from Elon, who is unhappy with the One Big Beautiful Bill because it does not include the policies he wanted.'
Still, the damage may be lasting. Musk has hinted at launching a new political movement and pledged to withhold future campaign donations. On Tuesday, he warned voters to oust any politicians who 'betrayed the American people.'
Whether this political divorce is permanent or merely a prelude to a truce or part of Musk's plan to distance himself from Trump's controversial reforms remains to be seen.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
