The relationship between President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk has deteriorated into a public dispute, with both men exchanging harsh criticisms over Trump’s domestic spending legislation.
The conflict escalated throughout Thursday on their respective social media platforms, marking a dramatic turn in their previously collaborative partnership. Trump initially expressed disappointment with Musk’s opposition to his administration’s major tax and spending bill, questioning whether their “great relationship” could continue.
Musk responded by accusing Trump of “ingratitude” and claiming “, Without me, Trump would have lost the election.” However, both appeared to moderate their positions later, with Trump telling Politico, “It’s going very well, never done better” and his aides scheduling a Friday phone call with Musk. Musk also acknowledged the need for reconciliation in response to a post by Trump supporter Bill Ackman.
The dispute centers on Trump’s spending bill, which passed the House and awaits Senate approval. After leaving his role at the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) following 129 days, Musk criticized the legislation as a “disgusting abomination” on his platform X, arguing it would irresponsibly increase national debt.
During a press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump defended the bill and expressed disappointment with Musk’s opposition, suggesting the Tesla CEO was concerned about removal of electric vehicle subsidies affecting his business interests.
Musk denied this motivation, stating he supported keeping EV incentive cuts while opposing what he termed the “MOUNTAIN OF DISGUSTING PORK” in the bill. He later posted a poll asking followers about creating a new political party and made various accusations against Trump, including unsubstantiated claims about Jeffrey Epstein files.
Their partnership began when Musk endorsed Trump following a July assassination attempt, reportedly contributing $290 million to his election campaign. Musk credited himself with the Republican electoral victory, claiming Trump would have lost without his support.
The White House condemned Musk’s allegations through press secretary Karoline Leavitt, calling it “an unfortunate episode” from someone “unhappy” with the spending bill. Trump responded on Truth Social, claiming Musk “just went CRAZY” and suggesting terminating Musk’s government subsidies and contracts as a cost-saving measure.
Musk initially threatened to decommission SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, which transports people and supplies to the International Space Station, but later retracted this threat. Tesla stock fell 14% as the public dispute unfolded.
The Congressional Budget Office projects the spending bill will increase national debt by $2.4 trillion over ten years and leave nearly 11 million people without government-backed health insurance. The White House disputes these figures, citing revenue from increased tariffs.
As head of Doge, Musk implemented significant staff reductions and eliminated entire departments, including USAID. While Doge claims $180 billion in savings, this figure has been disputed and falls short of Musk’s initial goal of $2 trillion in reduction.
About the author
Bolsonaro Supporters Rally Nationwide as Trump Sanctions Brazil Over Coup Trial
Supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro have demonstrated across major cities protesting the Supreme Court coup trial that could result in lengthy prison sentences for the former leader. Protesters gathered Sunday in Sรฃo Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and other cities, carrying Brazilian and United States flags in apparent reference to President Donald Trump's support for his political ally. Demonstrators displayed banners featuring images of both Bolsonaro and Trump while chanting supportive slogans. Bolsonaro faces accusations of attempting to overturn the 2022 election results after losing to left-wing opponent and current President Luiz Inรกcio Lula da Silva. In January 2023, Bolsonaro supporters stormed Brazil's congress, ransacking chambers and attacking police in scenes reminiscent of the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol by Trump supporters. According to testimony from a Brazilian general, the alleged plotters also planned to assassinate […]
Smithsonian Museum Quietly Removes Trump Impeachment Display Sparking Political Firestorm
The Smithsonian Institution has denied political influence in its decision to remove a display about President Donald Trump's impeachments from the National Museum of American History. The institution stated Saturday that it removed the "temporary" placard for failing to meet museum standards regarding "appearance, location, timeline, and overall presentation." Officials explained the display was inconsistent with other exhibit sections and obstructed views of objects within its case. "We were not asked by any Administration or other government officials to remove content from the exhibit," the Smithsonian said in a statement. The institution, which operates 21 museums and the National Zoo, announced plans to update the impeachment section in coming weeks to "reflect all impeachment proceedings in our nation's history." The Washington Post reported Thursday that the museum removed explicit references to Trump's impeachments last month, leaving the exhibit incorrectly stating […]
FBI Opens Major New Office in New Zealand to Counter China Threat
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has established a standalone office in Wellington, New Zealand, marking a significant expansion of US law enforcement presence in the Asia Pacific region. The move represents both countries' coordinated efforts to address Chinese influence across the region. FBI Director Kash Patel personally traveled to New Zealand to inaugurate the office, emphasizing the "strong relationship" between the FBI and New Zealand's law enforcement and intelligence agencies during Thursday's opening. Speaking in a video shared by the US embassy, Patel highlighted US-New Zealand collaboration on China-related issues as particularly significant. "Some of the most important global issues of our times are the ones that New Zealand and America work on together โ countering the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] in the Indo PACOM theatre, countering the narcotics trade, working together against cyber-intrusions and ransomware operations and, most importantly, […]
NBA Star Gilbert Arenas Arrested For Running Million Dollar Poker Ring From Mansion
Former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas and five co-defendants face federal charges for allegedly operating an illegal gambling enterprise from his Encino, California mansion. The 43-year-old former guard is charged with conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, operating an illegal gambling business, and making false statements to federal investigators. He appeared for arraignment Wednesday afternoon in the United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles, facing a potential maximum sentence of five years in federal prison per count if convicted. Among those arrested Wednesday was 49-year-old Yevgeni Gershman, identified by the US Attorney's Office of the Central District of California as a suspected organized crime figure from Israel. According to the unsealed federal indictment, Arenas and his co-defendants operated the illegal gambling business between September 2021 and July 2022. Arenas rented his Encino mansion to co-conspirators who hosted illegal "Pot […]
Messi Delivers Last Second Miracle Pass to Save Inter Miami From Embarrassment
Lionel Messi recorded two assists, including a crucial setup in the match's final moments, as Inter Miami defeated Atlas 2-1 in their Leagues Cup opener at Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The match marked Messi's return following a one-game suspension imposed by Major League Soccer for missing the All-Star game, along with teammate Jordi Alba. The 38-year-old Argentine proved decisive by setting up Marcelo Weigandt for the match-winning goal in stoppage time on Wednesday night. "It's a competition that we always do well in," Messi stated in Spanish during his post-match Apple TV interview. "I think we did a great job against a great team." Messi's first assist came in the 58th minute when he received a through ball from Sergio Busquets before delivering it to Telasco Segovia for an easy finish to open the scoring. Atlas responded through Rivaldo Lozano's equalizer […]
Russian Missiles Kill Six Including Child As Trump’s Peace Deadline Expires
At least six people were killed and more than 50 were wounded in a Russian drone and missile attack that hit multiple districts across Kyiv and collapsed an apartment building, Ukrainian officials reported. Among the fatalities was a six-year-old boy. Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv's military administration, warned the death toll could increase, with damage reported at over two dozen locations throughout the capital. The distinctive sound of Russian drones was audible for hours over Kyiv, punctuated by the explosive impact of missile strikes. Despite the ongoing attacks, they have persisted even after US President Donald Trump threatened stronger sanctions against Moscow if Vladimir Putin fails to agree to a ceasefire by August 8. Ukraine's air force reported that Russia launched 309 drones and cruise missiles overnight. While air defense systems intercepted some incoming projectiles, numerous strikes found their targets, […]
Related
Anfield Evacuated Minutes Before Liverpool and Athletic Bilbao Match
Liverpool's Anfield Main Stand was evacuated prior to their scheduled friendly match against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. The fixture was set to kick off at 5:00 p.m., with a second match between the same teams planned for 8:00 p.m. Spectators were directed to leave the stadium immediately after an alarm activation, as they were taking their seats. Officials have not yet disclosed the reason for the evacuation. Spectators leaving the stadium The matches represent Liverpool's preparation for the new Premier League season, featuring a combination of first-team players and academy prospects across two separate games against the Spanish club. The squad for the opening fixture includes Darwin Nunez, Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, Kostas Tsimikas, and Andy Robertson among the senior players selected. These friendlies mark Liverpool's return to Anfield following the tragic death of Diogo Jota. The […]
Bolsonaro Supporters Rally Nationwide as Trump Sanctions Brazil Over Coup Trial
Supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro have demonstrated across major cities protesting the Supreme Court coup trial that could result in lengthy prison sentences for the former leader. Protesters gathered Sunday in Sรฃo Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and other cities, carrying Brazilian and United States flags in apparent reference to President Donald Trump's support for his political ally. Demonstrators displayed banners featuring images of both Bolsonaro and Trump while chanting supportive slogans. Bolsonaro faces accusations of attempting to overturn the 2022 election results after losing to left-wing opponent and current President Luiz Inรกcio Lula da Silva. In January 2023, Bolsonaro supporters stormed Brazil's congress, ransacking chambers and attacking police in scenes reminiscent of the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol by Trump supporters. According to testimony from a Brazilian general, the alleged plotters also planned to assassinate […]
Smithsonian Museum Quietly Removes Trump Impeachment Display Sparking Political Firestorm
The Smithsonian Institution has denied political influence in its decision to remove a display about President Donald Trump's impeachments from the National Museum of American History. The institution stated Saturday that it removed the "temporary" placard for failing to meet museum standards regarding "appearance, location, timeline, and overall presentation." Officials explained the display was inconsistent with other exhibit sections and obstructed views of objects within its case. "We were not asked by any Administration or other government officials to remove content from the exhibit," the Smithsonian said in a statement. The institution, which operates 21 museums and the National Zoo, announced plans to update the impeachment section in coming weeks to "reflect all impeachment proceedings in our nation's history." The Washington Post reported Thursday that the museum removed explicit references to Trump's impeachments last month, leaving the exhibit incorrectly stating […]
FBI Opens Major New Office in New Zealand to Counter China Threat
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has established a standalone office in Wellington, New Zealand, marking a significant expansion of US law enforcement presence in the Asia Pacific region. The move represents both countries' coordinated efforts to address Chinese influence across the region. FBI Director Kash Patel personally traveled to New Zealand to inaugurate the office, emphasizing the "strong relationship" between the FBI and New Zealand's law enforcement and intelligence agencies during Thursday's opening. Speaking in a video shared by the US embassy, Patel highlighted US-New Zealand collaboration on China-related issues as particularly significant. "Some of the most important global issues of our times are the ones that New Zealand and America work on together โ countering the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] in the Indo PACOM theatre, countering the narcotics trade, working together against cyber-intrusions and ransomware operations and, most importantly, […]
NBA Star Gilbert Arenas Arrested For Running Million Dollar Poker Ring From Mansion
Former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas and five co-defendants face federal charges for allegedly operating an illegal gambling enterprise from his Encino, California mansion. The 43-year-old former guard is charged with conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, operating an illegal gambling business, and making false statements to federal investigators. He appeared for arraignment Wednesday afternoon in the United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles, facing a potential maximum sentence of five years in federal prison per count if convicted. Among those arrested Wednesday was 49-year-old Yevgeni Gershman, identified by the US Attorney's Office of the Central District of California as a suspected organized crime figure from Israel. According to the unsealed federal indictment, Arenas and his co-defendants operated the illegal gambling business between September 2021 and July 2022. Arenas rented his Encino mansion to co-conspirators who hosted illegal "Pot […]
Russian Missiles Kill Six Including Child As Trump’s Peace Deadline Expires
At least six people were killed and more than 50 were wounded in a Russian drone and missile attack that hit multiple districts across Kyiv and collapsed an apartment building, Ukrainian officials reported. Among the fatalities was a six-year-old boy. Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv's military administration, warned the death toll could increase, with damage reported at over two dozen locations throughout the capital. The distinctive sound of Russian drones was audible for hours over Kyiv, punctuated by the explosive impact of missile strikes. Despite the ongoing attacks, they have persisted even after US President Donald Trump threatened stronger sanctions against Moscow if Vladimir Putin fails to agree to a ceasefire by August 8. Ukraine's air force reported that Russia launched 309 drones and cruise missiles overnight. While air defense systems intercepted some incoming projectiles, numerous strikes found their targets, […]
Be the first to leave a comment