In a dramatic shift thatās sending shockwaves through political and tech circles, former U.S. President Donald J. Trump publicly severed ties with tech billionaire Elon Musk in a scathing Truth Social post late last night, declaring, āHeās done.ā
The abrupt fallout between two of the most influential figures in business and politics comes after months of public tension and behind-the-scenes disagreements. Trump, who has previously praised Musk for his innovation and free speech advocacy, now appears to be turning on the Tesla and SpaceX CEO, accusing him of betrayal and political double-dealing.
Trumpās Explosive Post
In his signature blunt style, Trump wrote on Truth Social:
āElon Musk talks a big game about freedom, but heās shown his true colors. Weak on loyalty, flip-flopping on me and trying to play both sides. We donāt need phony allies. Heās DONE. Truth Social is where the real patriots are!ā
While the post didnāt go into full detail about what prompted the break, sources close to Trump suggest the final straw may have been Muskās recent comments during a tech summit, where he distanced himself from Trumpās 2024 campaign and hinted at supporting a āmore moderateā third-party candidate.
The Fallout
This marks a sharp reversal from the cordial tone that once defined their relationship. Musk had previously reinstated Trumpās account on X (formerly Twitter) in 2022 and spoke favorably about the importance of Trumpās voice in the national discourse, despite not fully aligning politically.
In recent months, however, their paths began to diverge:
Musk criticized Trumpās stance on cryptocurrency regulation.
Trump privately fumed over what he saw as Musk ācatering to global elites.ā
Both men reportedly clashed over AI regulation and control of online speech.
Muskās Response
As of this writing, Musk has not responded directly to Trumpās post. However, he did cryptically tweet (on X):
āWhen someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.ā
Many online are interpreting this as a thinly veiled reference to Trump.
Reactions Pour In
Supporters of Trump quickly rallied behind the former president on Truth Social, praising his āno-nonsenseā stance and calling Musk a āsellout.ā Meanwhile, Musk loyalists dismissed Trumpās comments as āego-drivenā and irrelevant in the broader context of technological innovation.
Political analysts say this split could have implications beyond personal rivalry. With both men holding immense sway over their respective audiences, a public rift may deepen divisions within conservative and libertarian-leaning circles heading into the 2024 election season.
What This Means
Trumpās post signals more than just personal animosityāitās a strategic distancing as he doubles down on Truth Social and positions himself as the unchallenged leader of the MAGA movement. Meanwhile, Musk continues to carve out a complicated role as a quasi-political influencer, one that doesnāt align neatly with any party or ideology.
For now, one thing is clear: the Trump-Musk alliance is over, and the political-tech landscape may never be the same again.
