Trump and Musk feud erupts, threatening political and business ties

Reuters

A once-strategic alliance between President Donald Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk collapsed in spectacular fashion this week, as the two billionaires exchanged public barbs in an escalating feud that has left Washington reeling.

Their relationship, marked by moments of mutual praise and collaboration — including Musk’s informal advisory role in Trump’s administration — unraveled rapidly following Musk’s criticism of Trump’s legislative agenda. Initially brushing off the remarks, Trump eventually fired back, prompting a torrent of retaliatory posts from the Tesla and SpaceX CEO.

Musk accused the president of failing to rein in federal spending, hinted at calls for impeachment, and even revived conspiracy theories about Trump’s alleged connections to Jeffrey Epstein. He also claimed, without evidence, that Trump would not have won the 2024 election without his support.

Trump responded with characteristic force: “Musk has been wearing thin,” he wrote, claiming he had asked Musk to leave his administration and that the billionaire had “gone CRAZY.”

The feud threatens to impact major federal contracts with Musk’s companies — including SpaceX’s lucrative NASA deals and Tesla’s involvement in infrastructure projects. Sources say Trump is now considering reviewing or even cutting those contracts, escalating the fallout beyond personal grudge into policy and business consequences.

As both men remain highly influential in their respective spheres, the breakdown of their alliance marks a significant shift in the political-business power dynamic shaping Washington. The capital — and the markets — are now holding their breath.

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