The online crossfire between Donald Trump and Elon Musk has cooled—for now—but don't mistake the silence for peace.
According to Politico, aides from both camps connected on Friday to put a lid on the escalating drama. Neither Trump nor Musk spoke directly, but the behind-the-scenes call was all about damage control. It worked temporarily. Trump hasn’t posted about Elon on Truth Social since—but insiders say he’s still fuming.
What Set Trump Off
It wasn’t just one thing. Elon publicly referenced Trump’s name appearing in the “Epstein files,” a sensitive topic regardless of context. While there’s been no allegation of wrongdoing against Trump in those documents, the mention alone triggered a strong reaction.
Then came the claim that really hit home: Musk posted that Trump “wouldn’t have won in November without me,” pointing to over $250 million in political backing. He followed it up with, “Such ingratitude.” That message reportedly hit a nerve—Trump does not take kindly to anyone trying to own his political wins.
The Bill, the NASA Snub, and the Real Rift
While this feud played out online, Trump was focused on pushing a major domestic spending bill. Elon called it a “MOUNTAIN of DISGUSTING PORK” on X, undermining Trump’s legislative push from the sidelines.
But this rift didn’t begin online. Sources say it worsened when the Trump administration pulled Elon’s pick to lead NASA, Jared Isaacman. The decision reportedly came from White House personnel director Sergio Gor—who has his own tense history with Musk.
After a high-level meeting in March, where Trump reminded everyone that “agency heads—not Elon—call the shots,” Musk stopped playing along. His companies started laying off staff, triggering legal and political blowback. But Elon didn’t flinch.
Bigger Than Politics
What makes this clash unique isn’t just ego—it’s power. Trump is the dominant force in GOP politics. Elon is the richest man on the planet with a platform that rivals any world leader’s reach. Their audiences overlap, but their visions don’t always align.
Whether this pause holds or not, one thing’s clear: the Musk–Trump dynamic is volatile, and it’s not done shaping headlines—or policy—just yet.