In early June 2025, a once-unlikely rift between former President Donald Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk erupted into a public spectacle, played out on X and fueled by policy disputes, personal insults, and clashing egos.
What began as a private disagreement over government efficiency and economic policy escalated into a high-profile feud, raising questions about the stability of Trump’s political coalition and Musk’s role as a conservative influencer. This article traces the origins, escalation, and implications of their falling out.
Origins of the Rift: Tensions at Mar-a-Lago
The seeds of discord were sown in late May 2025, reportedly at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
On May 29, an unverified X post by @QTHESTORMM alleged that Trump and Musk clashed over accusations that Musk was misusing funds tied to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
While unconfirmed, the claim aligns with reports of Trump’s growing distrust, with aides noting he questioned Musk’s commitment, asking, “Was it all bullshit?”
By May 31, tensions deepened. Sources, including The Independent and Politico, reported Trump’s frustration after Musk allegedly attempted to “sneak into” a White House meeting on potential conflict with China.
This incident raised concerns about Musk’s motives, given his extensive business interests in Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI.
On June 2, Musk hinted at his unease on X, posting, “I’m stuck in a bind, where I don’t want to speak up against the administration, but I also don’t wanna take responsibility for everything this administration’s doing.” This marked the transition from private friction to public posturing.
The Feud Goes Public: X as the Battleground
The rift exploded on June 5, 2025, when Musk used X to directly challenge Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB), a signature tax and spending package. Labeling it a “disgusting abomination,” Musk warned it would harm the economy, particularly his global businesses.
He escalated further by reposting an X user’s call for Trump to resign and criticizing Trump’s proposed global tariffs, predicting they would trigger a recession. Most provocatively, Musk posted—and later deleted—a claim that Trump was implicated “in the [Jeffrey] Epstein files,” a serious accusation lacking public evidence.
Trump retaliated swiftly, claiming he had “fired” Musk from DOGE and warning of “serious consequences” if Musk funded Democrats.
Posts on X, such as one from @CandidategenX on June 3, speculated Trump would frame Musk’s exit as due to “massive flaws” in DOGE management. The exchange showcased their contrasting styles: Musk’s attacks were sharp and specific, digging up old Trump tweets, while Trump’s were broader, dismissing Musk as “wearing thin.”
Apology & winding down the feud
By June 7, Musk began deleting inflammatory posts, including the Epstein claim, signaling a retreat.
On June 11, Musk posted on X:
“I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far.”
Trump also responded via phone interview, saying it was “very nice” of Musk, and expressed openness to reconciliation, calling it “things like that happen”.
“I thought it was very nice that he did that,” he replied to the Time news post.
Final status
It seems that Elon Musk and Donald Trump have called a temporary truce just after Musk apologized, and Trump did not fight back.
But the peace is still shaky because they both need each other in different ways. How? Musk’s companies depend on government support, and Trump needs rich supporters like Musk.
Some Republican leaders have also asked them to make peace, worried that their fight could cause problems for the party and its plans. In the end, it is more like a pause in the conflict than a real solution.
What’s next?
This is not the first time Trump has dropped a powerful person. Throughout his political career, he has been doing that. Trump has warned him that he might cancel government deals with Musk’s companies. He could also target Musk’s supporters who still work in the government, or reopen old investigations from when Biden was president.
Musk’s image and companies have already taken a hit, so it wouldn’t be smart for him to start another fight with Trump. And now, Musk seems open to making peace. Tesla investors would likely be happy if he keeps his promise to stay out of politics and focus on his businesses again.
But since the fight has ended, this might be just a normal feud between 2 men. Or maybe something else. Nothing can be claimed with certainty.
