Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk and former U.S. President Donald Trump are currently in a heated public feud, sparked by conflicting statements over political support and government contracts.
The dispute, which emerged this week, has raised concerns about the future of Musk’s multibillion-dollar contracts with the U.S. government, particularly with NASA and the Pentagon.
The rift between Musk and Trump appears to stem from Musk’s public criticism of a tax bill associated with Trump’s administration. Although Musk had previously supported Trump’s presidential campaign financially and served briefly in his administration, Trump expressed surprise and disappointment at Musk’s recent stance. Trump claimed he had always liked Musk and did not expect such opposition from someone he considered an ally, particularly after Musk’s significant contributions during his tenure. This perceived betrayal marked the beginning of a very public and personal falling out.
Speaking at an Oval Office meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump said he was “very surprised” and “very disappointed” in Musk. He remarked, “You saw the words he had for me, and he hasn’t said anything about me that’s bad. I’d rather have him criticize me than the bill. Because the bill is incredible.” Trump’s comments reflected a sense of personal offense over Musk’s decision to publicly criticize a key piece of legislation from his presidency, despite their prior cooperation.
Musk responded on social media, claiming credit for Trump’s electoral victory and the Republican hold on the Senate. “Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate,” Musk wrote in response to a video of Trump’s remarks. He added, “Such ingratitude.” The fallout came shortly after Musk officially exited his government position leading the Department of Government Efficiency. With billions in government contracts at stake, the feud threatens to escalate beyond rhetoric, potentially affecting Musk’s ventures like SpaceX and Starlink.