The 'Breakup' between Musk and Trump Actually Started with a 'Hundred Day Reform'!
1. Honeymoon Period: From Advisor to Ally
In 2017, Musk joined Trump's Economic Advisory Council, initially supporting his tax cuts and deregulation policies. However, when Trump announced withdrawal from the Paris Agreement in 2018, Musk immediately announced his resignation, stating, 'Climate change is real.' This marked the first public disagreement between the two. The real turning point came in 2024: during Trump's campaign, Musk not only restored his banned X account but also donated $75 million monthly to a PAC supporting Trump, and in January 2025, he joined the Trump administration as a special advisor in the Efficiency Department, vowing to cut $1 trillion in government spending.
2. The Catalyst for Breakup: Collision of Policies and Interests
1. Fiscal Policy Discrepancies: Musk pushed for reforms such as layoffs and closures of agencies, but the 'Big and Beautiful' bill passed by Trump in May 2025 planned to cut taxes by $4 trillion and expand spending, directly contradicting Musk's goals. Musk publicly criticized the bill for 'expanding the deficit,' while Trump avoided mentioning its name.
2. Tariffs Backfiring on Tesla: Trump's tariffs on China caused Tesla’s import costs for parts to soar, with the price of Model S/X in China rising to 1.5 to 1.8 million yuan, forcing a halt on orders. Musk repeatedly blasted Trump's trade advisor Navarro as 'dumber than a bag of bricks,' claiming his policies 'harm American businesses.'
3. NASA Budget Conflict: Trump planned to cut NASA's science budget, and Musk publicly expressed that it was 'concerning,' but due to SpaceX's reliance on NASA contracts, he could not oppose it directly.
3. Relationship at Freezing Point: From Infighting to Public Feuds
On May 28, 2025, Musk announced his resignation, stating, 'The federal bureaucracy is more daunting than expected.' On the same day, Trump, in an interview, did not mention Musk at all, marking a complete cooling of their relationship. More dramatically, Trump had previously promised to include Musk in his cabinet and even suggested canceling the electric vehicle tax credit to please him, but the final policy ended up severely impacting Tesla.
Conclusion: This breakup essentially represents a conflict between global business interests and populist policies. Musk attempted to push reforms through a government position but found his company backfiring due to Trump's protectionist policies. #币安Alpha上新