🔥 What’s happening
From allies to adversaries: Musk, once a supporter of Trump and his “One Big Beautiful Bill,” has denounced it as a “disgusting abomination,” warning it would deepen
. In response, Trump accused Musk of hypocrisy and threatened to pull federal subsidies and contracts
Escalating personal attacks: Trump has labeled Musk “crazy,” while Musk countered by alleging Trump appears in the Jeffrey Epstein files—sparking a political firestorm
High-stakes fallout: The feud threatens an estimated $22 billion in SpaceX contracts and caused Tesla’s stock to plunge ~14%, wiping out a month’s worth of gains
Musk’s plan B: With support of Trump’s policies fading, Musk is even talking about founding a new centrist party to influence Washington directly
Cultural ripple effect: Late-night hosts like Jimmy Kimmel are weighing in, turning this clash into a meme‑rich, media-fueled spectacle
🧭 Why it matters
Political alliance shift: This feud signals a rare fracture within conservative ranks, potentially altering voter allegiances
Economic repercussions: Federal funding for SpaceX, Tesla’s stock volatility, and shifting contract dynamics across Silicon Valley and Washington all hang in the balance.
Digital influence war: With Musk’s control over X (formerly Twitter) and Trump’s Truth Social, this is also a power contest over media influence
washingtonpost.com
.
Voter reactions unclear: Some polls show 28% siding with Trump, 8% with Musk, and the rest undecided—signaling an unpredictable public perception
🔜 What comes next
Will Trump follow through on cutting Musk-funded subsidies and space contracts?
Can Musk gain enough traction to launch a viable centrist movement?
What’s the market impact if this fight continues—and how will other aerospace firms respond?
