The Trump and Musk who once fought side by side, now stand on opposite sides, engaging in a fierce war of words. The issue began with Trump's push for the 'Big and Beautiful' tax reform bill, which Musk believes will lead to a $2.4 trillion increase in the U.S. deficit, while cutting spending on healthcare, education, and clean energy, yet providing tax cuts for the wealthy, which he sees as 'robbing the poor to pay the rich.' Trump, on the other hand, believes Musk turned against him because of the cancellation of the electric vehicle 'mandate,' which touched his interests.

The conflict between the two escalates, with Trump threatening to cancel subsidies and contracts for Musk's companies, while Musk retorts that without his help, Trump cannot win the 2024 election. This war of words has exposed divisions within the Republican Party regarding technology policy and fiscal positions, as well as creating rifts in the U.S. political and business ecosystem.