What began as a powerful alliance between former allies — U.S. President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk — has collapsed in dramatic fashion, igniting a public feud that blends political threats, deleted accusations, and fears of deep political and economic fallout.
In a searing interview with NBC News on Saturday, Trump confirmed that his relationship with Musk — a key donor who contributed nearly $300 million to his 2024 campaign — is effectively over. He issued a stern warning to Musk against supporting Democratic candidates in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections.
“He’ll have to pay very serious consequences if he does that,” Trump said, without specifying what those consequences might be. Musk, the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and satellite internet company Starlink, has significant business interests tied to lucrative U.S. federal contracts — a reality that gives weight to Trump’s vague threat.
The rupture between the two influential figures escalated swiftly after Musk condemned Trump’s latest tax and spending bill as a “disgusting abomination.” The controversial bill narrowly passed the House and now faces scrutiny in the Senate. Nonpartisan analysts estimate it would add $2.4 trillion to the U.S. debt over the next decade, raising concerns among fiscal hawks, including some Republicans.
But what began as a policy disagreement quickly veered into personal territory. On Thursday, Musk dredged up Trump’s long-known association with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, alleging in a now-deleted X post that the president appears in unreleased government files tied to Epstein’s criminal network. “That is the real reason they have not been made public,” Musk wrote.
Trump has not been accused of any wrongdoing, though he had a documented friendship with Epstein in the early 2000s. He has denied visiting Epstein’s private island, Little Saint James, where prosecutors say Epstein trafficked underage girls. The Trump administration has acknowledged it is reviewing tens of thousands of Epstein-related documents and materials, which Trump’s “MAGA” movement claims could expose powerful figures across government and industry.
By Saturday morning, Musk had deleted his post referencing the Epstein files, along with other critical messages, including one where he endorsed Trump’s impeachment and promoted Vice President JD Vance as a replacement. In that exchange, when another user posted, “President vs Elon. Who wins? My money’s on Elon. Trump should be impeached and JD Vance should replace him,” Musk simply replied, “yes.”
Despite the deletions, damage control remains elusive. Trump’s statement that he has “no intention of speaking to [Musk]” and “would assume” the relationship is over reflects the depth of the rift. He also said he had not considered terminating U.S. government contracts with Musk’s companies, but his warning cast a shadow over Musk’s federal business ties.
Republican leaders and party donors are reportedly alarmed by the feud. Many have urged both men to dial back the rhetoric amid fears that a sustained conflict could harm the GOP’s unity and electoral prospects heading into 2026.
Vice President JD Vance, speaking on comedian Theo Von’s “This Past Weekend” podcast, called Musk’s attacks on Trump a “huge mistake,” though he attempted to downplay the outburst as an emotional reaction. “I’m always going to be loyal to the president, and I hope that eventually Elon kind of comes back into the fold. Maybe that’s not possible now because he’s gone so nuclear. But I hope it is,” said Vance, who described Musk as an “incredible entrepreneur.”
Trump had only recently praised Musk for his short-lived role heading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump-appointed initiative aimed at slashing government spending. Though Musk had promised to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget, he achieved just a fraction — about half of one percent — before stepping down last week.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration is facing scrutiny on other fronts. In the same NBC interview, Trump addressed the recent return of Salvadoran immigrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia, accused of transporting undocumented migrants within the U.S. Trump clarified that the decision was made by the Department of Justice and not influenced by any conversation with El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele.
Musk is not expected to attend Saturday’s UFC fight in New Jersey, an event he previously attended twice alongside Trump. The absence marks a symbolic end to a once-powerful political friendship that had combined wealth, technology, and populist momentum.
With midterm elections looming and the Republican Party walking a tightrope between internal loyalty and public image, the Trump-Musk fallout underscores how personal animosities can threaten political machinery — especially when the stakes are as high as federal funding, party control, and public trust.
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