Trump to Sell Tesla Amid Escalating Feud With Elon Musk
Washington, D.C. — Former President Donald Trump plans to sell his Tesla vehicle, a move signaling a sharp downturn in his relationship with Elon Musk. Two White House officials confirmed Friday that Trump has no intention of reconciling with the tech billionaire, despite recent efforts to ease tensions.
Trump bought the red Tesla in March as a show of solidarity with Musk during a public controversy. But the goodwill has since faded, with both men exchanging barbs online. Aides say Trump is uninterested in repairing the relationship, even after Musk appeared to soften his stance this week.
Thursday, Musk backed away from a threat to deactivate SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, which services key NASA missions. The reversal came after investor Bill Ackman publicly urged the two to reconcile “for the good of the country.” Musk replied, “You’re not wrong,” suggesting some openness to dialogue — but Trump has yet to respond in kind.
The political and financial stakes are considerable. SpaceX and other Musk-led ventures have received billions in federal contracts that could be affected by the fallout. For Trump, the rift could mean losing a major financial supporter: Musk donated roughly $275 million to Trump’s 2024 campaign and had pledged another $100 million to GOP causes ahead of the 2026 midterms. That backing now appears uncertain.
With tensions high and mutual interests at risk, the question remains whether either man is willing to make the first move toward reconciliation — or whether this feud will deepen.