From bromance to breakup: How Elon Musk and Donald Trump blew up
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Shannon Bond
Donald Trump and Elon Musk watch the launch of the SpaceX Starship rocket on November 19, 2024 in Brownsville, Tex. shortly after Trump's election victory.
Donald Trump and Elon Musk watch the launch of the SpaceX Starship rocket on November 19, 2024 in Brownsville, Tex. shortly after Trump's election victory.
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Elon Musk and President Donald Trump's very public bromance is going through a very public breakup.
On Thursday, their disagreements over the Republican mega-bill advancing most of Trump's biggest domestic policy priorities erupted into personal attacks, with the two men using their respective social media platforms to hurl insults.
President Trump meets in the Oval Office on June 5.
Politics
Trump threatens to cut Musk contracts as feud quickly escalates
After Trump threatened on Truth Social to cut off billions of dollars in federal subsidies and contracts to Musk's companies, which include Tesla and SpaceX, Musk claimed — without evidence — that Trump appears in government documents about convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. "That is the real reason they have not been made public," Musk claimed.
The White House declined to comment on Musk's accusation.
Trump, Musk and now-Vice President JD Vance attend the 125th Army-Navy football game on Dec. 14, 2024 in Landover, Maryland. After the election and in the first months of the administration, Musk was often spotted at Trump's side.
Trump, Musk and now-Vice President JD Vance attend the 125th Army-Navy football game on Dec. 14, 2024 in Landover, Maryland. After the election and in the first months of the administration, Musk was often spotted at Trump's side.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
The blow up marks the end of an alliance between the president and the billionaire that lasted far longer than many observers expected.