New Delhi: What began as one of the most high-profile alliances in American politics has now spectacularly unraveled. Former allies President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk exchanged blistering public barbs on Thursday, turning a long-simmering tension into a full-scale political and business war.
Oval Office Outburst
President Trump broke his silence in the Oval Office, sharply criticizing Musk, saying he was “very disappointed” in the billionaire, who had been a key backer and advisor during the 2024 election cycle.
“Look, Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore,” Trump told reporters.
Trump then took to Truth Social to make a pointed threat:
“The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts.”
The markets didn’t take it lightly — Tesla stock plummeted over 14%, wiping out nearly $150 billion in market value, the largest single-day loss in company history.
Musk Fires Back
Never one to back down, Musk immediately responded on X (formerly Twitter), agreeing to a post suggesting Trump should be impeached — an unprecedented statement given Trump’s party dominates Congress.
The tech mogul then went further, declaring:
“Without me, Trump would have lost the election,”
and accused Trump’s economic policies of pushing the U.S. toward a recession.
SpaceX Drama and Strategic Threats
In a dramatic escalation, Musk announced he would begin decommissioning the Dragon spacecraft, the only American vessel capable of ferrying astronauts to the International Space Station. However, he reversed the statement just hours later.
This move was seen as a warning shot since SpaceX remains deeply embedded in national security and NASA operations. Musk’s other company, Starlink, also holds major defense and communications contracts.
Tax Bill Fallout and GOP Split
The feud began after Musk denounced Trump’s much-touted tax cut and spending bill, branding it a “disgusting abomination” that could add up to $5 trillion to the national debt.
Musk’s vocal opposition triggered internal Republican dissent, threatening the bill’s Senate prospects and exposing a deep rift in the GOP.
“Elon really was a significant portion of the ground game this last cycle,” a senior GOP strategist told Reuters. “If he sits out the midterms, that worries me.”
Truce on the Horizon?
Despite the fiery exchanges, Musk showed signs of softening late Thursday, replying “You’re not wrong” to investor Bill Ackman’s suggestion that he and Trump should reconcile.
Whether this marks the beginning of a detente or merely the calm before the next storm remains to be seen.
