The once-warm relationship between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and former U.S. President Donald Trump has ended on a sour note. The fallout followed a series of harsh online criticisms by Musk, who claimed Trump would have lost the election without his help. “Without me, Trump would have lost the election,” Musk posted on X (formerly Twitter). “Such ingratitude.” Musk made this remark after Trump threatened to take away government subsidies and incentives given to Musk’s companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, and Starlink.
Trump Admits Disappointment After Musk’s Harsh Comments
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said he felt “very disappointed” by Musk’s criticism of his major spending proposal. He questioned whether their friendship could survive the rift. “Look, Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore. I was surprised,” Trump said, referring to Musk’s description of the bill as an “abomination.”
Trump pointed out that Musk had in-depth knowledge of the bill and was shocked that he suddenly opposed it. “I’m very disappointed because Elon knew the inner workings of this bill better than almost anybody sitting here… All of a sudden, he had a problem,” Trump added. Musk quickly responded on X, rejecting Trump’s claims and standing by his opposition.
Trump Shares Personal Memories Amid Political Tensions
During the same press session, Trump shared a detailed account of how their relationship fell apart. Some people described the scene as more of an emotional outpouring than a political discussion, especially as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz sat beside him, quietly listening.
Trump recalled a moment from Musk’s farewell press conference, describing how the billionaire stood behind him with a visible black eye. “You saw a man who was very happy when he stood behind the Oval desk, and even with the black eye. I said, You want a little makeup? We’ll get you a little makeup,” Trump said.
“But he said, ‘No, I don’t think so,’ which is interesting and very nice. He wants to be who he is.” At that time, Musk was already facing reports of drug use during his stint as head of the Department of Government Efficiency.
Trump also admitted he understood why Musk might be upset. He had recently withdrawn a nominee for NASA administrator, a person Musk had supported.
Spending Bill Becomes the Core of the Dispute
The main issue behind the feud is Trump’s ambitious new tax and spending legislation. Known as the “big, beautiful bill,” the proposal seeks to extend tax cuts introduced in Trump’s first term. Republicans see it as a critical part of their strategy for winning the 2026 midterm elections.
But Musk strongly opposed the bill. On Tuesday, he described it as a “disgusting abomination,” warning that it would worsen the U.S. deficit. A day later, he urged Republican lawmakers to stop the bill. “Kill the bill,” Musk demanded, calling for a new plan “that doesn’t massively grow the deficit.”
