Tensions between former US President Donald Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk have erupted into a full-scale public feud, ending what was once dubbed a political and entrepreneurial bromance.
The fallout follows Musk’s outspoken opposition to Trump’s flagship spending bill, which the billionaire has heavily criticised for over a week, even lobbying against its passage.
Trump, visibly frustrated, vented during a Thursday meeting with the German chancellor at the Oval Office, expressing deep disappointment with Musk’s actions. “He went CRAZY,” Trump said in follow-up remarks, alleging that Musk had been asked to leave his advisory role in the administration and threatening to sever lucrative government contracts with Musk’s companies, including SpaceX.
The feud intensified shortly after, as Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) to launch a barrage of pointed remarks. In a dramatic escalation, Musk insinuated — without offering evidence — that Trump may be implicated in yet-to-be-released documents tied to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The allegations were widely condemned and triggered further responses from Trump, who labelled Musk “unhinged” and accused him of betraying the administration after being appointed to oversee government efficiency initiatives, dubbed “Doge” — a nod to Musk’s well-known interest in cryptocurrency.
The very public spat rattled investors, with Tesla’s stock plunging 14% amid the fallout, pushing the company’s market valuation below the $1 trillion mark for the first time in months. Analysts attributed the drop in part to concerns over Musk’s political entanglements and fears of retaliatory government action.
Musk has since withdrawn an earlier threat to decommission a vital SpaceX spacecraft used by NASA for transporting American astronauts to the International Space Station, signalling a potential de-escalation on at least one front.
However, the damage may already be done. What was once a mutually beneficial alliance between the world’s most powerful political figure and the world’s richest man has now devolved into a bitter feud with global visibility, carrying potential repercussions for space exploration, electric vehicle markets, and the volatile intersection of politics and big tech.
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