Elon Musk and former President Donald Trump found themselves in a heated public dispute on Thursday, igniting a flurry of comments across their social media platforms. The spat began when Musk expressed his frustration over the "Big Beautiful Bill" and took to X, claiming he was the main reason Trump won a second term. He accused Trump of being ungrateful for his support.
In response, Trump took to Truth Social, where he labeled Musk as “CRAZY” and suggested he might cancel Musk’s government subsidies. This led Musk to make a serious accusation, implying that Trump was linked to the Epstein files, which he claimed was why they had not been made public. Musk even hinted at crippling America’s space capabilities if the feud continued, threatening to decommission the SpaceX Dragon capsule.
Despite Musk’s previous support for Trump, particularly leading up to the 2024 presidential election, his recent actions have raised eyebrows. Many are questioning whether the MAGA movement should continue to trust him.
One major concern is Musk’s strong ties to China. He has praised the country’s efforts in the electric vehicle market and committed to upholding "core socialist values" while competing in China, despite its adversarial stance toward the U.S. His company, Tesla, has also been criticized for its operations and praise of the Chinese Communist Party.
Additionally, Tesla has faced scrutiny over safety issues with its electric vehicles, which have been involved in numerous fires, raising concerns about their safety long before the recent anti-Trump protests.
Musk’s SpaceX, while enjoying a significant market share in space launches, has recently faced setbacks, including multiple rocket explosions during test flights. This dominance in the space industry has raised national security concerns, especially as Musk threatened to halt operations on critical projects.
Musk’s relationship with immigration policies has also drawn criticism. He recently lashed out at those opposing the H-1B visa program, while reports revealed that Tesla had replaced American workers with foreign H-1B employees, raising questions about his commitment to American jobs.
This is not the first time Musk has distanced himself from Trump. After initially joining a White House advisory council, Musk resigned in 2017 following Trump’s decision to exit the Paris climate agreement, which Musk opposed.
Moreover, Trump has previously referred to Musk as a “bullshit artist,” highlighting a rocky relationship that seems to have resurfaced.
Finally, Musk’s personal struggles with substance use have come to light. He has admitted to using ketamine for depression, raising concerns about how this might affect his public behavior and decision-making.
As the feud continues, many are left wondering how this will impact both Musk’s businesses and his relationship with the Republican base.