It was the political marriage of the century, until the plates started flying. One day, Elon Musk is jumping for joy at a Pennsylvania rally in a "Dark MAGA" hat. The next, he’s basically calling Donald Trump an ingrate on X while Trump threatens to yank his government contracts. If you’ve been following the Elon Musk and Donald Trump feud, you know it’s been a wild ride of "bromance" and backstabbing.
Honestly, it’s hard to keep up with who is mad at whom this week. Just when we thought they were inseparable—Musk literally lived at Mar-a-Lago for a while—the whole thing imploded over a spending bill. But is it actually over? Not quite. By early 2026, they were seen having a "lovely dinner" again. It’s a cycle of chaos that has massive implications for the U.S. economy, NASA, and your Tesla stock.
The Epic Rise and Fall of the Elon Musk and Donald Trump Feud
To understand the beef, you have to look at the 2024 election. Musk didn't just endorse Trump; he became his biggest bankroller. We’re talking over $250 million pumped into the campaign. Trump called him a "new star" during his victory speech. He even gave Musk a job: co-leading the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. For a few months, Musk was the "First Buddy," traveling on Air Force One and sitting in on Cabinet meetings.
Why the "Bromance" Hit the Wall
The honeymoon ended around May 2025. The spark that lit the fuse was Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill"—a massive spending and tax package. Musk, who had been tasked with cutting the budget, hated it. He called it a "disgusting abomination" and a "pork-filled" mess.
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Things got ugly fast. Musk quit his government role, and the insults started flying across social media platforms like heat-seeking missiles.
- June 3, 2025: Musk warns he will "fire all politicians" who support the bill.
- June 5, 2025: Trump tells reporters in the Oval Office he is "very disappointed" in Musk.
- The Clapback: Musk fires back on X, claiming Trump would have lost the election without him.
- The Nuclear Option: Trump takes to Truth Social and threatens to terminate Musk’s federal subsidies and contracts.
This wasn't just two guys arguing over a dinner tab. We're talking about SpaceX, which NASA relies on to get astronauts to the International Space Station. Musk actually threatened to decommission the Dragon 2 spacecraft in a fit of pique before deleting the post. It was a high-stakes game of chicken between the world’s richest man and the world’s most powerful one.
The Epstein Files and the "America Party"
If you think a budget fight is dramatic, wait until you hear about the "big bomb" Musk tried to drop. During the height of the Elon Musk and Donald Trump feud in June 2025, Musk posted that Trump was in the "Epstein files." He claimed this was the real reason the records hadn't been made public.
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He didn't stop there. Musk started a poll on X asking if he should create a new "America Party" to represent the "80% in the middle." He was basically threatening to burn the GOP house down. Trump responded by saying Musk had gone "CRAZY" and suggested he return to where he came from. It was peak 2025 political theater.
Why They Can't Stay Mad Forever
Despite the threats of deportation and contract cancellations, these two always seem to find their way back to each other. By September 2025, they were shaking hands at a memorial service in Arizona. By January 2026, Musk was back at Mar-a-Lago, posting about how "2026 is going to be amazing."
Why the flip-flop? It’s simple: they need each other.
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Trump needs Musk’s money and the massive megaphone of X for the 2026 midterms. Musk needs Trump to keep the regulatory heat off Tesla and SpaceX. It’s a symbiotic relationship built on mutual ego and survival. As former Rep. Joe Walsh put it, they are like "two monsters" that grow stronger together.
What This Means for You
The feud isn't just entertainment; it moves markets. When the beef was at its worst in June 2025, Tesla stock plummeted 15% in a single day. Investors hate uncertainty, and nothing says "uncertainty" like the President of the United States threatening to bankrupt his biggest supporter.
- Market Volatility: Expect Tesla (TSLA) to swing wildly whenever Musk hits "post" on a political rant.
- SpaceX Contracts: The stability of U.S. space missions is currently tied to the personal whims of two men.
- The 2026 Midterms: Musk has signaled he’s jumping back into the political spending game, which could shift the balance of power again.
If you’re trying to navigate this landscape, the best move is to keep a close eye on X and Truth Social, but don't overreact to every single post. These two thrive on disruption. The feud is often just a prelude to a new alliance.
Stay informed by following non-partisan budget watchdogs who track the actual impact of the "Big Beautiful Bill" and the DOGE initiatives. Understanding the underlying policy disagreements will give you a better sense of when the next "breakup" is coming than just reading the insults.