The feud escalated on June 5, 2025, with a series of explosive social media exchanges. Musk claimed Trump would have lost the election without him and accused him of ties to Jeffrey Epstein, while Trump threatened to withdraw federal support from Musk’s companies. Trump later said Musk “has a problem” and announced plans to sell a Tesla vehicle he had recently acquired.

The fallout has had tangible consequences. Tesla's stock dropped by up to 18% before partially recovering, marking its worst day since March. Ross Gerber, CEO of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management, announced he is selling more Tesla stock following the public dispute, criticizing Musk’s erratic leadership and the Tesla board’s inaction.