If you were scrolling X or Truth Social last summer, you probably thought the world was ending. Or at least, the world of Republican power politics. People were asking "are trump and musk fighting" every five seconds because, honestly, it looked like a total train wreck. Two of the biggest egos on the planet—the President of the United States and the world’s richest man—were basically acting like feuding middle schoolers in front of millions of people.
It was messy. Musk was calling Trump’s signature "One Big Beautiful Bill" a "disgusting abomination." Trump was firing back that Musk was "wearing thin" and claiming he basically kicked Elon out of the White House.
But fast forward to right now, January 2026, and the vibe has shifted. Like, a lot. Just a few days ago, Musk posted a photo from a dinner at Mar-a-Lago with Donald and Melania Trump, calling it "lovely" and saying 2026 is going to be "amazing." If they were fighting, they’ve clearly decided that being friends is way more profitable—and powerful—than being enemies.
The Summer Blowup: Why Are Trump and Musk Fighting?
So, how did we get here? To understand if they're still fighting, you have to look at the spectacular "bromance" breakup of 2025.
Musk started the year as the golden boy of the new administration. He was leading DOGE—the Department of Government Efficiency—and everyone was calling him the "Co-President." But the honeymoon didn't even make it to the Fourth of July.
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The primary spark was the One Big Beautiful Bill. This was Trump’s massive legislative package meant to fix everything from taxes to infrastructure. Musk, playing the role of the fiscal hawk, hated the price tag. He went on a tear on X, saying the bill was full of "pork" and would bankrupt America.
The Feud Hits a Breaking Point
Trump does not like being told his bills aren't "beautiful." The retaliation was swift.
- The Contract Threat: Trump actually suggested on Truth Social that the government should terminate SpaceX’s subsidies and contracts. That’s billions of dollars.
- The "Epstein" Post: In one of the wildest moments of the feud, Musk shared a post implying Trump’s name was in the Epstein files.
- The "Ingratitude" Jab: Musk claimed Trump would have lost the 2024 election without his $200 million donation and the influence of X.
Honestly, it looked like a permanent split. Tesla stock even took a massive 15% dive on June 5, 2025, because investors were terrified that a vengeful Trump would use the power of the federal government to crush Musk’s businesses. Steve Bannon was even on his podcast telling Trump to investigate Elon’s immigration status. It was that level of ugly.
The 2026 Rapprochement: Why the Feud Thawed
Money and power are great healers. By late 2025, the icy silence started to melt.
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They were spotted shaking hands at a memorial service for Charlie Kirk in September. Then Musk showed up at a White House dinner in November. But the real "we're back" moment happened just last week.
On January 4, 2026, Musk shared that Mar-a-Lago dinner photo. Since then, Trump has been singing Elon's praises again. On a flight on Air Force One recently, Trump told reporters that Musk is "80% super genius" and "a good guy."
Why the sudden change of heart? Basically, they need each other for the 2026 midterms. Trump needs Musk’s money and the megaphone of X to keep the MAGA base energized. Musk needs the government to stop threatening his SpaceX contracts and perhaps back off on some of those pesky European tech regulations.
Current Cooperation in 2026
The relationship isn't just about dinners and tweets anymore; it's becoming part of U.S. foreign policy.
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- The Iran Situation: Right now, Iran is facing massive protests and an internet blackout. Trump publicly stated he plans to call Elon to get Starlink active there.
- Venezuela: When U.S. forces captured Nicolás Maduro recently, Musk’s Starlink immediately offered free broadband to the country. Musk congratulated Trump on the raid, cementing their new alliance.
- The EU Tech War: The Trump administration is currently using visa sanctions against European regulators who are trying to fine X. Trump is literally using the State Department to protect Elon's profits.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Trump-Musk Dynamic
People tend to think this is a normal friendship or a normal political alliance. It's neither. It’s more like a "Cold War" peace treaty.
Most analysts, including folks like Rick Wilson from the Lincoln Project, have argued that these two are destined to collide again because they both demand to be the center of attention. Trump hates sharing the spotlight, and Musk can't help but take it.
The idea that they are "best friends" is a stretch. They are strategic partners who happen to have a lot of the same enemies—specifically "woke" culture, mainstream media, and government bureaucrats. As long as those enemies are bigger than their personal grievances, the fighting will likely stay behind closed doors.
Actionable Insights: What to Watch Next
If you're trying to figure out if the peace will last through the rest of 2026, keep your eyes on these specific triggers:
- The Midterm Spending: Watch if Musk actually resumes his massive donations to the GOP. If the money doesn't flow, Trump will notice.
- DOGE 2.0: Musk stepped back from his formal government role in mid-2025. If he doesn't get a new seat at the table, he might get bored and start tweeting criticisms again.
- SpaceX Contracts: If the Pentagon starts diversifying away from SpaceX to competitors like Blue Origin, Musk might take it as a personal betrayal from the White House.
The short answer to "are trump and musk fighting" is: Not right now. They've entered a phase of "mutually assured benefit." But in the world of high-stakes ego, a single tweet at 3:00 AM can change everything. For now, the "bromance" is back on life support, and 2026 is looking like a year of joint projects rather than public brawls.
Monitor the official White House press releases and Musk's X feed for any mention of "subsidies" or "pork"—those are the code words for a pending explosion.