Key Points Summary – Trump Musk Feud Explodes
- Tesla stock dropped 13% amid the growing feud
- Trump threatened to cut Musk’s government deals
- Musk blamed Trump for slashing EV subsidies
- Musk claimed credit for Trump’s 2024 victory
- Trump called Musk “crazy” and accused him of betrayal
- Musk said his influence will outlast Trump’s presidency
- The feud triggered investor panic and public debate
A bromance turned bitter
The political world watched in shock as the Trump Musk feud explodes into the open. What began as a high-powered friendship now resembles a scorched-earth battle. For six months, Elon Musk had a seat at the Trump cabinet table. He wore a MAGA hat, sat in on meetings, and was treated like an insider. But that era is over.
This week, Trump unloaded on Musk. During a joint appearance with Germany’s Friedrich Merz, he said, “Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore.”
Tesla shares take a beating
Soon after those remarks, Tesla shares tumbled 13%. Investors panicked. The spark? A fight over the new tax and spending bill. Trump removed electric vehicle credits. Musk, whose company depends on them, erupted online.
He mocked Trump’s proposal and called it a “disgusting abomination.” Musk then claimed his massive donation had delivered Trump’s election win.
‘He went CRAZY’
Trump didn’t stay quiet for long. He took to Truth Social: “Elon was wearing thin. I asked him to leave. I took away his EV mandate, and he just went CRAZY!” He also proposed canceling Tesla’s federal subsidies and government contracts.
The once-chummy pair had turned into political enemies overnight. Trump added, “Nobody wanted his cars anyway.”
Musk strikes back
Musk responded on X with sarcasm and fire. “Whatever,” he posted as Trump was still speaking. He then wrote, “Trump has 3.5 years left, I have 40 more.” The tech mogul warned lawmakers that he would fund primary challenges against anyone supporting Trump’s bill.
He also accused Trump of deceiving him, claiming, “This bill was never shown to me. It passed in the dead of night.”
Public reaction erupts
The online world quickly took sides. Some cheered Musk for standing up. Others accused him of being a sore loser. Reddit threads lit up with posts like, “Two egos, one stage. It was bound to explode.”
On financial forums, Tesla investors expressed outrage. “Elon just wiped out my May gains with a tweet storm,” one user wrote.
Fallout across Washington
Reporters in D.C. noted tension had been building for weeks. Cabinet members stayed silent when asked if they had problems with Musk. But behind closed doors, many complained about his budget cuts and disruptive ideas.
NBC reported that Musk tried to persuade Trump to keep solar and EV credits. He failed. Now, the political honeymoon is over.
What comes next?
Experts warn the feud could do lasting damage. Tesla’s federal support is at risk. SpaceX could see fewer NASA deals. And Musk’s attempt to play kingmaker in Republican politics might backfire.
For now, Wall Street is jittery. Tesla shares are down over 25% this year. With the feud escalating, more pain may follow.
As one analyst put it: “You can’t have two emperors in one empire. And neither is backing down.”