Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the latest Trump vs. Musk showdown:
⚔️ The Feud Unfolds
1. The Spark
Elon Musk slammed Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill”—a sweeping tax-and-spending package—as a “disgusting abomination.” In response, Trump accused Musk of disrespecting the presidency and warned of “serious consequences” if Musk supports Democratic candidates .
2. Personal Attacks
The exchange quickly turned personal:
Musk implied that Trump is mentioned in the Jeffrey Epstein “files,” a claim he later deleted .
Trump retaliated by calling Musk “crazy,” “lost his mind,” and suggested challenging his government contracts or even selling the Tesla Musk gave him .
3. Growing Divide
Musk’s Family Concerns: Errol Musk, Elon’s father, attributes the feud to prolonged stress and urges a resolution, noting it will likely end “on a good note” .
Impact on Tesla: Baird downgraded Tesla stock, citing reputational risk from the feud .
Political Fallout: House Republicans largely dismiss Musk’s influence on the bill, but a YouGov poll shows 71% of Republicans backing Trump over Musk .
🏛️ Political and Business Ripples
Federal Contracts & Regulation
Trump threatened to revoke SpaceX and Starlink contracts, which represent billions in government funding .
Musk's ventures—Tesla, SpaceX, Starlink, xAI, and Neuralink—could face heightened regulatory or budgetary scrutiny under Republican oversight .
Market Response
Tesla stock dropped ~26% in 2025, impacted by the feud, although it later recovered some losses .
💬 Is This a Strategic Distraction?
On The View, Whoopi Goldberg suggested the sparring might be “manufactured drama”, possibly a tactic to divert attention from larger political narratives, stating “Y’all bought into it.”
⚓ Signs of De-escalation
Musk appears to be signaling détente, resharing Trump posts and responding to calls for peace on X .
Trump says he’s not interested in reconciliation—yet aides, including VP J.D. Vance, express hope they patch things up
