Why did Donald Trump and Elon Musk fall out? Feud explained

‘The girls are fighting, aren’t they?’

This is how US congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez summarised the fallout between Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

It would be funny if it were not two of the most powerful men in the world.

Yes, their bromance has imploded in full public view, complete with snarky swipes, tantrums and accusations that could have huge legal implications.

Recap of the Trump-Musk feud

The first major cracks in their relationship showed at the end of last month on what turned out to be Musk’s last day in the White House.

The Tesla CEO had become bolder in expressing his dissent over Trump’s budget and tax cut bill currently making its way through Congress.

Asked about Musk’s disapproval of his ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’, the US president told reporters last night: ‘Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will any more.’

Musk responded, lashing out further overnight, branding it a ‘disgusting abomination’ that will explode federal budget deficits.

‘Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it,’ he wrote on X.

The criticism quickly escalated into an all-out brawl between the pair, each on their own social media sites Truth Social and X, or in press conferences.

Trump threatened to pull back billions of dollars in government contracts for Musk’s companies, while the billionaire bit back, suggesting that Trump would have lost the election without him.

Musk reignites conspiracy theory with Epstein claim

It was Musk’s tweet – linking Trump with the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein – that caused the most controversy.

He alleged that the Republican leader is featured in the secret government files on rich and powerful former associates of the sex offender, reigniting long-running conspiracy theories.

Musk posted: ‘Time to drop the really big bomb: (Trump) is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public.’

He later reposted a video from 1992 of Trump partying with Epstein and memes about their feud – amplifying them to his 220 million followers on X.

Supporters on the conspiratorial end of Trump’s base allege that Epstein’s associates had their roles in his crimes covered up by government officials and others.

They point the finger at Democrats and Hollywood celebrities, however, not at Trump himself.

No official source has ever confirmed that the president appears in any of the material.

Musk did not reveal which files he was talking about, and offered no actual evidence for his claim.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt on Thursday called Musk’s behavior ‘an unfortunate episode’ adding the tycoon is ‘unhappy with the One Big Beautiful Bill because it does not include the policies he wanted.’

But the allegation prompted fresh demands for a release of the material – this time from Democrats keen on turning a MAGA conspiracy theory back on its proponents.

What could happen next?

The breakup could reshape both men’s futures. For Musk, the stakes are potentially even higher.

This was already evident minutes into the online feud as Tesla’s stock price plunged 14%.

The break risks intensified scrutiny of his business practices that could jeopardize government contracts and invite regulatory probes, which might threaten his companies’ profits.

For Trump, losing Musk’s backing threatens his growing influence among tech donors, social media audiences, and younger male voters – all key groups that may now be harder to reach.

It could also complicate fundraising ahead of next year’s midterm elections.

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