It was supposed to be the ultimate power couple. The "Star" and the President. When Donald Trump stood on that stage in Mar-a-Lago on election night in 2024 and shouted, "A star is born, Elon!" it felt like the start of a new era. Musk had dumped nearly $200 million into the campaign. He was jumping for joy at rallies in Butler. He was basically the "First Buddy."
Then, 2025 happened.
The Donald Trump Elon Musk feud didn't just simmer; it exploded like a Falcon 9 on a bad test day. If you’ve been following the headlines, you know the vibe changed fast. We went from "DOGE" memes and efficiency commissions to talk of the Epstein files and threats to cancel SpaceX contracts.
Honestly, the whole thing was a rollercoaster. It’s the kind of drama that makes "Succession" look like a sitcom. But now that we’re in 2026, the dust is finally starting to settle, and the reality of their relationship is way more complicated than just two big egos clashing in a sandbox.
The "Big Beautiful Bill" That Broke the Bromance
Everything was going great until May 30, 2025. That was Musk’s last official day as a special government employee leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). He’d spent months swinging a chainsaw through federal agencies, firing people and cutting "waste." He even got a golden key from Trump in the Oval Office.
But then came the "One Big Beautiful Bill" (OBBB).
Trump wanted a massive legislative win—a mix of tax cuts and infrastructure spending. Musk, the self-appointed guardian of the national debt, absolutely hated it. On June 3, 2025, he went scorched earth on X. He called the bill a "disgusting abomination" and "pork-filled."
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Trump didn’t take it well.
The President sat in the Oval Office with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and basically told the world he was "disappointed" in Elon. He suggested Musk was only mad because the bill cut electric vehicle subsidies that helped Tesla.
"Elon and I had a great relationship. I don't know if we will anymore," Trump told reporters.
It was a public breakup for the ages. Musk fired back, claiming Trump would have lost the election without him and accusing the President of "ingratitude." Then things got really ugly.
When the Feud Got Personal
You know it's bad when people start bringing up the "Epstein files."
At the height of the Donald Trump Elon Musk feud in June 2025, Musk posted a cryptic (and since-deleted) suggestion that Trump was avoiding releasing certain documents because his own name was in them. No evidence. Just a grenade tossed into the middle of the room.
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Trump’s response? He went to Truth Social and called Musk a "train wreck" and a "bullshit artist"—revisiting an old insult from their 2022 spat. He even threatened to "terminate Elon's governmental subsidies and contracts."
Imagine that. The guy who runs SpaceX, which basically is the US space program at this point, being told his contracts were on the chopping block. The markets freaked out. Tesla stock took a nose-dive. Protesters were already targeting Tesla showrooms because of Musk’s politics, and now his own ally was turning the hose on him.
- The "America Party" Threat: Musk even polled his followers about starting a third political party.
- The Deportation Jab: At a rally in Michigan, Trump took a swipe at Musk's immigrant roots, saying, "Maybe it's time he went back to where he came from."
- The Tesla Takedown: Trump claimed he only bought a Tesla to be "nice" and that the EV mandate was gone.
Why the Feud Actually Mattered
This wasn't just two rich guys yelling on the internet. This was a collision between the executive branch of the United States and the private company that controls our satellites, our rockets, and a huge chunk of the EV market.
When the Donald Trump Elon Musk feud was at its worst, NASA was sweating. If Trump actually followed through on canceling SpaceX contracts, the Artemis moon mission was dead in the water.
There was also the DOGE fallout. Musk’s team had already cut thousands of federal jobs and slashed grants. When he left and started attacking the administration, the "chaos" he left behind became a political liability. By late 2025, budget experts were still trying to figure out where the $214 billion in "savings" Musk claimed to have found actually went.
The Great Thaw of 2026
So, where are we now?
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As of January 2026, the "Bromance Part Two" seems to be in full swing. Politics is weird, right?
On January 4, 2026, Musk posted a photo of himself having a "lovely dinner" at Mar-a-Lago with Donald and Melania. He’s back to saying "2026 is going to be amazing!" and he’s reportedly cutting big checks for the upcoming midterms.
Why the sudden change of heart?
- Mutual Necessity: Trump needs Musk’s tech. Just this week, Trump mentioned he might call Elon to use Starlink to help protesters in Iran.
- The "80/20" Rule: Trump recently told reporters that he likes Elon again, saying he's "80% super genius and 20% mistakes."
- The Midterms: Republicans need Musk’s PAC money. Musk needs the government to not regulate his companies into the ground.
It’s a marriage of convenience. They probably still don't agree on the "Big Beautiful Bill," but they’ve realized they are more powerful as a duo than as enemies.
What This Means for You
If you're looking for the "actionable" takeaway here, it's about volatility. The Donald Trump Elon Musk feud proved that in the current political landscape, loyalty is a moving target.
If you're an investor, you've seen how a single Truth Social post or an X rant can swing Tesla's market cap by billions. Moving forward, expect this relationship to remain "on-again, off-again." They are both "disruptors" by nature. They like the spotlight. And they both want to be the smartest person in the room.
How to Track the Relationship
- Watch the Contracts: Keep an eye on new SpaceX and Starshield awards. If the money keeps flowing, the feud is "performative."
- Follow the Subsidies: If Trump starts talking about bringing back EV tax credits (or cutting them further), you’ll know where he stands with Elon.
- Check the "Likes": Musk's X feed is the best barometer. If he stops sharing MAGA content, a storm is brewing.
The Donald Trump Elon Musk feud isn't over—it's just in a "cold" phase. These are two of the most influential people on Earth. They’ll be back at each other’s throats the moment their interests diverge again. But for now, they're sharing steaks at Mar-a-Lago and planning for 2026.
To stay ahead of the next market-shifting headline, you should monitor official government contract announcements alongside Musk's social media activity. The gap between what they say and what they sign is where the real story lives. Don't get distracted by the tweets; watch the Treasury.