LAWMAKERS have been forced to pick sides after President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s bromance came to a screeching halt.

Democrats and Republicans are scrambling to pledge their allegiance after Musk called for Trump’s impeachment and hurled unfounded accusations about the Epstein files.

7 Elon Musk’s feud with President Donald Trump has left some MAGA loyalists picking sides Credit: Reuters

7 The feud erupted over Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill,’ which proposed stripping billions in government subsidies from Tesla Credit: AP

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The drama unfolded when Musk disapproved of Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” calling it a “massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill.”

Trump said the world’s richest man was furious because the bill proposes stripping billions in government subsidies from Musk’s electric vehicle company Tesla.

The two exchanged digital blows with searing social media posts until late Thursday night, when White House aides were said to have scheduled a call between the bitter rivals.

RECONCILIATION REJECTED

Musk appeared to have offered a possible olive branch when he responded to a post on X from hedge fund manager Bill Ackman.

Ackman called for reconciliation, “for the benefit of our great country,” and said, “We are much stronger together than apart.”

In a telling reply, Musk said, “You’re not wrong.”

Speaker Mike Johnson raced to try to get Musk on the phone to negotiate a peace offering.

He said they were trying to nail down a time to chat, but haven’t been able to iron things out yet.

But that all fell apart on Friday morning when Trump blasted Musk again and said he wasn’t interested in talking anytime soon.

Despite glimmers of hope, politicians and thought leaders have rushed to pick sides and share their two cents on the matter.

Trump crushes hopes of ‘peace talks’ call with Musk as he insists Elon has ‘lost his mind’ after feud went nuclear

Though many of them have been quick to stick to President Trump, not everyone is falling in line.

TRUMP SUPPORTERS RALLY

Support for Trump was immediate and forceful as allies rallied around the president.

Johnson, who oversaw the passage of Trump’s “big beautiful bill” in the House that prompted Musk’s initial shot across the bow when he called the legislation a “disgusting abomination,” was among the first to come to the president’s aid.

“Look, I know all of you are very concerned about [Musk’s] tweets, but I think the American people are concerned about things that really matter,” Johnson told reporters Thursday.

How did Musk and Trump’s relationship crumble? ELON Musk and Donald Trump spent Thursday launching insults on social media as their relationship quickly went sour. The Tesla owner called for Trump’s impeachment as the president hit back and warned the government could end all federal contracts with Musk’s companies. Here’s how it went down: On Tuesday, Musk tweeted that Trump’s signature “big beautiful” spending bill was a “disgusting abomination” that would add billions to the federal deficit

On Thursday in the Oval Office, Trump addressed Musk’s criticism of the bill and accused Musk of trying to kill it because the bill ends federal subsidies for electric vehicles

Musk responded by live-posting on X as Trump spoke, initially shrugging off the president’s assessment with an unbothered “Whatever,” before tearing into the bill’s other spending provisions

Trump escalated the feud after the Oval Office meeting with multiple posts on Truth Social, saying he told Musk to leave the White House instead of continuing to work with Doge and threatening to dump Musk’s federal contracts, which are worth billions

Musk fired back on X by saying he was “decommissioning” the Dragon spacecraft made by SpaceX that brought the stranded Nasa astronauts back from the International Space Station in March

Musk also escalated the war of words by reposting and replying “Yes” to a tweet claiming that Trump should be impeached and replaced by Vice President JD Vance

Musk further fanned the flames by claiming that Trump is named in the infamous “Epstein files” and making unfounded accusations that its the reason they haven’t been released to the public.

“That is making their taxes low, making their economy work, making the border secure, making energy dominance a big thing again, and that’s what our bill is going to do.”

Johnson said he supported Trump’s massive tax and spending cuts bill, and called it a “historic step forward.”

Vice President JD Vance rushed to his bosses aid and blasted “lies the corporate media tells about President Trump.”

“One of the most glaring is that he’s impulsive or short-tempered,” he wrote.

“Anyone who has seen him operate under pressure knows that’s ridiculous.”

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the feud was an “unfortunate episode from Elon,” adding that he wasn’t happy with the bill because “it does not include the policies he wanted.”

“As a businessman, he has a right to speak for his companies, but as president, President Trump has a responsibility to fight for this country,” she told Fox News.

CJ Pearson, who is the co-chair of the Republican National Committee Youth Advisory, made it clear who had his vote and confidence.

“I’ll be on the side of the guy that took a bullet for his country. Simple as that,” he told the Daily Mail.

7 Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, slammed Musk’s claims, but added that he should be respected Credit: Getty

7 White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt praised the ‘big beautiful bill’ when she was asked about the feud Credit: Splash

EPSTEIN CLAIMS ‘RIDICULOUS’

Other Republicans fumed over Musk’s unfounded claim that Trump is named in files on sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and should be impeached.

Leader of the House Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, Anna Paulina Luna, said the Epstein accusation was bogus.

“The fact is, I do not believe that President Trump is in the Epstein files,” she said.

Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky who Musk supported, disagreed that Trump should be impeached but added that he still respects the Tesla CEO.

“This is the language Trump speaks in. [Musk] is speaking it back to him,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tennessee Representative Tim Burchett argued that if Trump were in the files, it would’ve already be used against him politically.

“Honestly, if any of that stuff was true on Trump, don’t you think the Biden administration would have brought it out? I mean, that’s just ridiculous,” he said.

There’s no evidence that Trump had any involvement in Epstein’s crimes.

7 Vice President JD Vance blasted the ‘corporate media’ for portraying Trump as short-tempered Credit: AP

MAGA INFLUENCERS CAUTIOUS

MAGA influencers remain divided on the feud, including Emily Wilson, known as Emily Saves America, who said that she “doesn’t agree with doing this publicly and it’s not a good look for us… compared to Democrats, our party at least goes for it.

“We go with what we think and feel, we don’t just fall in line with each other. I feel like Democrats are all shady and do everything behind closed doors and eat their own.”

Raquel Debono, who runs Make America Hot Again, jokingly said: “I guess Trump’s not invited to Mars anymore.”

However, activist Robby Starbuck said MAGA is stronger “with Trump and Elon working together,” and hopes the two can come together.

“Elon is right to want a balanced budget and Trump is right to want his signature legislation.

“Remember, our founders in America did great things, often fought and later made up.

“This doesn’t need to be a breakup if they let cooler heads prevail.”

Meanwhile, podcaster Joe Rogan, who endorsed Trump as president, called for Musk’s phone to be thrown away.

7 White House aides reportedly set up a phone call between Musk and Trump to clear the air, but it fell through Credit: AP

DEMOCRATS DIVIDED ON MUSK PRAISE

The feud has had some in the Democratic party praising Musk, which has earned the ire of Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman.

“The Dems, we’ve been dumping all over Musk and vandalizing Teslas or whatever, and now, suddenly, we might be more back into him,” he said.

Fetterman warned the party against fawning over the billionaire.

“It wasn’t that long ago that Tesla was like the virtue-signaling kind of accessory for Dems,” he said.

“I would never want to vandalize Teslas, and the ‘big, beautiful bill’ is wrong for America. So, from my perspective, I’ve just tried to be consistent through that.”

WHO’S STAYING QUIET

Some key decision makers are keeping to themselves until tensions cool.

“I’m staying out of it,” Representative Don Bacon, a Republican from Nebraska, told NBC News.

“There’s a good verse in Proverbs, ‘Stay out of fights.’ I’m staying out of this one.”

Representative Richard Hudson, a Republican from North Carolina, said that he has faith the feud will “blow over.”

When he was asked whether the two would make up, he merely shrugged.

DONALD Trump has squashed any hopes of reconciling with Elon Musk after the pair was said to plan a peace talk as he reportedly vowed to get rid of his Tesla.

The world has been watching the nuclear feud unfold after Elon fired off outlandish claims about Jefferey Epstein and called for Trump to be impeached.

13 Donald Trump has squashed any notion of peace talks with Elon Musk after their bitter feud played out before the world Credit: AFP or licensors

13 Musk spent hours posting dozens of digs at Trump, his presidency, and the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ on Thursday Credit: The Mega Agency

13 Trump is reportedly looking to sell the Tesla he bought from Musk in March Credit: Getty

13 Trump gushed over the high-tech interior of the Tesla when he shopped outside the White House Credit: AFP

13 The car is currently sitting outside the White House to promote the business, but it could be removed at any moment Credit: Reuters

The White House was believed to have been scrambling to arrange a phone call between the most powerful man in America and the world’s richest person, according to Politico.

It was initially thought to have been agreed by both men, but on Friday morning, Trump said that ship had sailed.

“You mean the man who has lost his mind?” Trump told ABC News when asked about the reported phone call.

The president explained that Musk was ready to chat, but said that he was “not particularly” interested in speaking.

Trump is also now looking to sell his red Tesla that he purchased in front of reporters outside the White House lawn, Fox News’ Peter Doocy reports.

The stylish model has been proudly displayed in a front lawn parking lot to help promote Tesla after Trump gushed about the high-tech display.

The president previously said that his staff could drive it whenever they wanted, as he’s no longer allowed to get behind the wheel for safety reasons.

One day, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was seen taking it out for a spin alongside her communications advisor Margo Martin.

But now, sources close to the White House reportedly said the car could disappear at any moment.

Vice President JD Vance also waded into the drama and defended his boss against the “many lies the corporate media tells about President Trump.”

Elon Musk’s craziest moments, as Tesla CEO leaves White House after 130 days of drama: from chainsaw to double hats and billionaire has ALREADY turned on Trump

“One of the most glaring is that he’s impulsive or short-tempered,” Vance wrote on X.

“Anyone who has seen him operate under pressure knows that’s ridiculous.”

The president’s flattening remarks came after a White House source revealed that no call is expected to take place anytime soon.

Multiple administration officials have tried to reach out to Musk and his representatives, but their calls have all been ignored, several sources told ABC News.

The two powerful men had been close allies for the best part of a year since Musk sided with Trump during the 2024 US presidential election.

They were almost inseparable for months after Trump’s seismic victory at the polls in November.

But their separation began over the weekend when Musk stepped away from his governmental duties with the Department of Government Efficiency.

Trump gave his friend a touching send-off in a final Oval Office interview that was overshadowed by Musk’s peculiar black eye.

But in the week sense, their relationship has taken a steep and sour turn.

BAD BREAKUP

The Tesla chief has been highly critical of the president’s “Big Beautiful Bill” on several occasions online.

He even labelled it a “massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill”.

Trump soon responded and sparked a very public fallout between the pair which came tit for tat attacks on social media Thursday.

13 The Tesla boss made unfounded allegations about Trump’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein on Thursday Credit: X

Trump fired back with a trio of Truth Social posts Credit: Truth Social

The worst of it came from Musk who called for the president’s impeachment and made unfounded allegations about Trump’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

Musk claimed that Trump is withholding the infamous Epstein files due to his name appearing in them.

Despite the remark there is no evidence that Trump had any involvement in convicted sex offender Epstein’s crimes.

Trump hit back on Truth Social saying Elon was “wearing thin” and that the president had to ask him to leave the White House.

13 A vandalized bust in honor of Musk is seen near Starbase in Brownsville, Texas, as the feud escalates Credit: Reuters

13 A mural depicting Musk was also put up near the SpaceX launch site Credit: Reuters

He went on to say that the US government could end all federal contracts with Musk’s companies if the insults continued to fly.

Trump described the possible move as a money saving measure.

Musk even said Trump’s victory in the 2024 US election was thanks to his support.

The debate quickly dragged in other pivotal US figures with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying Musk was having an “unfortunate episode.”

13 Musk also claimed to be the reason why Trump won the 2024 election Credit: X

13 The bitter feud started when Musk publicly criticised the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ put forward by Trump Credit: X

The SpaceX boss spent hours on his X platform addressing the heated situation overnight.

Despite going on the commenting spree targeting the governmental bill and Trump’s presidency, Musk did appear to be open to a reconciling.

American billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman sent out a message urging both men to make up for the good of the US.

He personally tweeted at Musk and Trump saying: “We are much stronger together than apart.”

How did Musk and Trump’s relationship crumble? ELON Musk and Donald Trump spent Thursday launching insults on social media as their relationship quickly went sour. The Tesla owner called for Trump’s impeachment as the president hit back and warned the government could end all federal contracts with Musk’s companies. Here’s how it went down: On Tuesday, Musk tweeted that Trump’s signature “big beautiful” spending bill was a “disgusting abomination” that would add billions to the federal deficit

On Thursday in the Oval Office, Trump addressed Musk’s criticism of the bill and accused Musk of trying to kill it because the bill ends federal subsidies for electric vehicles

Musk responded by live-posting on X as Trump spoke, initially shrugging off the president’s assessment with an unbothered “Whatever,” before tearing into the bill’s other spending provisions

Trump escalated the feud after the Oval Office meeting with multiple posts on Truth Social, saying he told Musk to leave the White House instead of continuing to work with Doge and threatening to dump Musk’s federal contracts, which are worth billions

Musk fired back on X by saying he was “decommissioning” the Dragon spacecraft made by SpaceX that brought the stranded Nasa astronauts back from the International Space Station in March

Musk also escalated the war of words by reposting and replying “Yes” to a tweet claiming that Trump should be impeached and replaced by Vice President JD Vance

Musk further fanned the flames by claiming that Trump is named in the infamous “Epstein files” and making unfounded accusations that its the reason they haven’t been released to the public.

Musk replied to the message by saying: “You’re not wrong.”

Trump is yet to publicly speak on if he believes there is a way back for the pair.

But he did tell Politico in a phone call that everything is “going very well, never done better”.

He added that despite Musk’s popularity with voters, the president’s favorability ratings have continued to go “through the roof.”

13 Rumours of a potential feud have been around for months after cracks started to show in the pair’s relationship Credit: AFP

Trump is currently embroiled in several emergency peace talks across the globe.

He has been urgently looking to end the war in Ukraine since entering office in January by keeping both Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin on side.

The president also held a crunch phone call with China’s Xi Jinping on Thursday.

Trump described it as a “very good” conversation and said he has been invited to Beijing in the coming months.

It comes amid weeks of escalating trade tensions after Trump announced especially bruising tariffs on China.

How Elon made his billions… ONLY a few individuals in the world stand a chance at becoming the world’s first trillionaire – and Elon Musk is near the top of that list. Since the start of his career, Musk has been able to amass an extensive fortune and kept a hold of the “world’s richest man” moniker for years. His career in the business world dates back to 1995, when he and his brother, Kimbal Musk, started the software firm, Zip2, which created internet city guides for the New York Times and Chicago Tribune. Four years later, in February 1999, Compaq acquired the company for $307 million in cash, giving Musk $22 million for his seven percent share from the sale. Later in 1999, he then co-founded X.com, one of the world’s first online banks, which merged with PayPal the following year. A notorious workaholic, he doesn’t spend his money on lavish vacations or expensive hobbies. Instead, the entrepreneur spends most of his free time at the office or in factories. Nowadays, most of his wealth continues to tick over thanks to his multiple business ventures including founding giant companies like Tesla and SpaceX. Musk’s worth also comes from the stock market, which he has helped influence greatly over the years. At the beginning of 2021, Musk made the price of Bitcoin break all-time records after he revealed Tesla invested $1.5billion in the cryptocurrency. In 2022, Musk hit headlines once more when he made an audacious paid for Twitter and turned it into X.

13 Trump gave Musk a touching send off over the weekend when he left the White House and stepped away from DOGE Credit: Reuters

Could the very public clash between US President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk already be heading toward a truce?

On Thursday, Musk indicated he was ready to cool tensions with Trump, following a volatile day in which he called for the president’s impeachment and implied Trump was hiding files related to Jeffrey Epstein.

The remarks came after Musk’s scathing attacks on the Republican tax bill drew ire from the White House, culminating in Trump’s threat to revoke billions in government contracts for Musk’s companies, Tesla and SpaceX.

According to Politico, White House officials have also scheduled a call with Musk for Friday in hopes of brokering peace.

As of late Thursday night, the White House had not issued an official comment on the matter.

Musk walks back aggressive stance as markets punish Tesla

Musk’s decision to escalate his rhetoric against Trump had swift financial consequences.

Tesla shares plunged 14% on Thursday — their largest single-day drop in history — wiping out $152 billion in market value and slashing Musk’s personal fortune by $34 billion.

In an apparent effort to reduce tensions, Musk reversed a prior post where he had announced SpaceX would stop using its Dragon spacecraft.

Responding to a user with only 200 followers on X who advised both men to “cool off,” Musk replied, “Good advice. Ok, we won’t decommission Dragon.”

He also responded positively to hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman, who urged the two to reconcile “for the benefit of our great country.”

Musk’s reply: “You’re not wrong.”

Source: X

Trump shrugs off feud, highlights polling and legislative agenda

Additionally, despite the public spat, President Trump appeared unfazed in a brief phone interview with Politico.

“Oh, it’s okay,” he said when asked about the feud with Musk.

“It’s going very well, never done better.” He quickly pivoted to touting high favourability ratings before ending the call.

Privately, however, White House aides were reportedly concerned about the feud distracting from legislative priorities.

According to Politico, officials persuaded Trump to scale back his attacks on Musk and focus on the administration’s sweeping tax bill — a centrepiece of the president’s second-term agenda that narrowly passed the House and is now in the Senate.

The president appeared to heed that advice in a Truth Social post, writing, “I don’t mind Elon turning against me, but he should have done so months ago.”

He went on to defend the legislation, calling it “one of the Greatest Bills ever presented to Congress” and signed off with his trademark, “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Republican lawmakers caught between a rock and a hard place

The clash has forced Republican lawmakers into an uncomfortable position.

Musk, a significant financial contributor to the party and owner of the influential platform X, has become an increasingly vital figure in conservative politics.

Trump, meanwhile, remains the Republican Party’s dominant force.

House Speaker Mike Johnson attempted to strike a conciliatory note, telling reporters that “policy differences shouldn’t be personal” and referring to Musk as a friend.

Behind the scenes, party operatives with ties to both men were reportedly working to calm the waters.

A volatile alliance shows its limits

The day’s events marked a dramatic turning point in the once-close relationship between Trump and Musk, who had worked together in recent months to align tech innovation with federal policy.

Musk’s recent criticisms of government spending, particularly around the tax bill, triggered a rare open rebellion against Trump, one that quickly spiralled into mutual threats and financial damage.

Whether the cooling tone holds or merely sets the stage for another round of political theatre remains to be seen.

For now, both men seem to recognize the high costs of continued escalation.

Elon Musk offers stunning olive branch to Trump as bromance disintegrates and threatens to rip MAGA apart

Elon Musk tried to de-escalate his spiraling feud with Donald Trump last night as White House aides organized a crisis call between the warring billionaires.

The bromance between the world’s richest and most powerful men was in tatters on Thursday with Musk calling for Trump to be impeached after linking him to Jeffrey Epstein and the president urged to deport the Space X boss.

The clash, which began over Musk’s opposition to Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’, quickly evolved into personal insults and prompted the president to suggest that Musk’s multibillion-dollar government contracts should be ripped away.

The world’s richest man suffered one of his worst ever days on Wall Street, losing around $27 billion from his net worth as frantic traders dumped Tesla stock.

Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman stepped into the fray, posting a plea on X for the two men to reconcile ‘for the benefit of our great country,’ warning that ‘we are much stronger together than apart.’

Musk, who became one of Trump’s closest allies during the election campaign and then as head of his DOGE cost cutting taskforce, responded with a brief but telling reply: ‘You’re not wrong.’

The unexpected comment was seen by some as an olive branch, suggesting he may be eager to deescalate their feud which finally exploded in public after weeks of rumored tension.

A White House official said the two men would speak on Friday. The official did not give a time for the call, which could ease the feuding after an extraordinary day of hostilities – largely conducted over social media – that marked a stark end to a close alliance.

Elon Musk last night moved to de-escalate his feud with Donald Trump (pictured together in March) after trading insults on Thursday as their high-profile bromance finally imploded

Amid the political firestorm, hedge fund titan Bill Ackman also took to X on Thursday evening with a plea for peace, urging Musk and Trump to reconcile ‘for the benefit of our great country.’

Musk responded with a brief but telling reply that was seen by many followers as an olive branch to Trump

Trump last night appeared to shrug off the stunning public feud in an interview with Politico.

‘Oh it’s okay,’ he said during a phone call, before touting his recent polling: ‘It’s going very well, never done better.

‘The numbers are through the roof, the highest polls I’ve ever had and I have to go.’

Trump had earlier threatened to terminate Musk’s lucrative federal contracts with allies suggesting he and his companies be stripped of security clearances.

One of his oldest advisors, Steve Bannon, went further and suggested the government seize SpaceX under the Defense Production Act – a move that would undoubtedly trigger challenges.

Musk, who had threatened to decommission the SpaceX Dragon capsule – a critical lifeline for transporting American astronauts and supplies to the International Space Station – ultimately retreated.

After a user on X suggested he ‘cool off and take a step back for a couple of days’, Musk abruptly posted: ‘Good advice. Ok, we won’t decommission Dragon.’

White House aides worked to persuade the president to temper his public criticism of Elon Musk to avoid escalation. A call is scheduled for Friday with Musk to clear the air. Pictured, Trump’s Chief of Staff Susie Wiles is pictured walking together with Musk in March of this year

Donald Trump was urged to immediately seize control of SpaceX after Elon Musk threatened to leave NASA astronauts stranded in space following a massive fall out with the president

Musk appeared to take a step away from the escalating drama, sharing in a post that he would not decommission the Dragon as initially suggested after Trump threatened to pull his multibillion-dollar government contracts

While the Defense Production Act gives the president broad powers to prioritize contracts deemed necessary for national defense, it does not explicitly authorize outright seizure or nationalization of private companies.

Trump could target Musk in other ways, such as targeting his contracts, clearances, and federal partnerships.

SpaceX has been awarded over $17 billion in government contracts since 2015, according to ABC News. Much of that money comes from NASA and the Department of Defense.

Tesla has also received approximately $1 billion according to the latest figures from February.

Bannon suggested the Defense Production Act – a national security measure dating back to the Korean War era – was the best way for Trump to strike back at Musk and his companies.

‘The United States government should take possession of it (Space X),’ Bannon declared on his ‘War Room Live’ broadcast.

‘Elon Musk is here illegally. He’s got to go,’ Bannon insisted, despite the fact that Musk, originally from South Africa, has been a naturalized US citizen for more than twenty years.

Bannon – who has long openly criticized the billionaire – called Musk an ‘unstable individual’ and a ‘national security issue,’ pointing to The New York Times report that charted the DOGE leader’s drug use.

‘President Trump is a bull and Elon is a baby calf.’

In a phone interview on Thursday with The New York Times, Bannon added: ‘They should initiate a formal investigation of his immigration status because I am of the strong belief that he is an illegal alien, and he should be deported from the country immediately.’

Steve Bannon, center, a former senior adviser to Trump during his first administration and a fierce critic of Elon Musk, has called for the president to seize SpaceX from the billionaire

The spat between Musk and Trump broke out early Thursday after the SpaceX boss ramped up his opposition to the Republican-led ‘big, beautiful bill.’

The budget reconciliation bill will reportedly add trillions to the national deficit, a move that enraged Musk and added to his departure from the Trump Administration.

Musk had been overseeing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which had claimed to have saved the US tens of billions of dollars on so-called wasteful government projects.

DOGE’s goal had been to get that number into the trillions but Musk claimed the bill ‘undermined’ his efforts.

The fractures in their relationship were finally made plain for all to see on Thursday as they took to X and Truth Social to exchange barbs.

Trump and Musk spectacularly broke up on Thursday with Musk publicly encouraging Trump to be impeached. Pictured, the pair are seen in the Oval Office in March

Elon Musk answered ‘yes’ when one X user floated impeaching President Donald Trump and replacing him with 40-year-old Vice President J.D. Vance

Whilst Trump was hosting the new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office he was asked about Musk’s recent criticism. From there, the dam broke.

‘Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will any more, I was surprised,’ Trump told reporters.

The president suggested that Musk was angry – not over the bill ballooning the deficit – but because the Trump administration has pulled back on electric vehicle mandates, which negatively impacted Tesla, and replaced the Musk-approved nominee to lead NASA, which could hinder SpaceX’s government contracts.

‘And you know, Elon’s upset because we took the EV mandate, which was a lot of money for electric vehicles, and they’re having a hard time the electric vehicles and they want us to pay billions of dollars in subsidy,’ Trump said. ‘I know that disturbed him.’

Trump attends a meeting with the Fraternal Order of Police in the State Dinning Room, taking a brief break from his all-day war with former DOGE leader Musk

Last weekend, Trump pulled the nomination of Jared Isaacman to lead NASA. Isaacman had worked alongside Musk at SpaceX.

‘He recommended somebody that I guess he knew very well, I’m sure he respected him, to run NASA and I didn’t think it was appropriate and he happened to be a Democrat, like totally Democrat,’ Trump continued. ‘We won, we get certain privileges and one of the privileges is we don’t have to appoint a Democrat.’

Musk posted to X while Trump’s Q&A with reporters was ongoing.

‘Whatever,’ the billionaire wrote.

‘Keep the EV/solar incentive cuts in the bill, even though no oil & gas subsidies are touched (very unfair!!), but ditch the MOUNTAIN of DISGUSTING PORK in the bill,’ he advised.

‘In the entire history of civilization, there has never been legislation that [is] both big and beautiful. Everyone knows this!’ Musk continued. ‘Either you get a big and ugly bill or a slim and beautiful bill. Slim and beautiful is the way.’

The spat quickly turned personal with Musk then posting that Trump would have lost the 2024 election had it not been for the world’s richest man – him.

Musk affirmed Thursday that he would like to see Vice President J.D. Vance take President Donald Trump’s place after he and Trump got in a very public spat

Musk objected to Trump’s claim that Trump would have won Pennsylvania – and the 2024 election – without the help from the world’s richest man. ‘Such ingratitude,’ Musk commented

Musk had publicly endorsed Trump on the heels of the July 13th assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania and poured around $290 million of his fortune into the Republican’s campaign.

The billionaire also joined Trump on the campaign trail when he returned to the site of the Butler shooting in early October, a month before Election Day.

Trump said in the Oval that he likely still would have won Pennsylvania without Musk’s help and because Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris didn’t choose the state’s governor, Josh Shapiro, to be her running mate.

Even with Shapiro on the ticket, Trump claimed, ‘I would have won Pennsylvania, I would have won by a lot.’

Musk said that was laughable.

‘Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate,’ Musk claimed.

‘Such ingratitude,’ the billionaire added.

The 53-year-old Musk also asserted he had more staying power than the 78-year-old president.

It was less than a week ago that Trump celebrated Musk’s time in his administration. The pair are pictured in October 2024

‘Oh and some food for thought as they ponder this question: Trump has 3.5 years left as President, but I will be around for 40+ years,’ Musk said Thursday afternoon, responding to a post from MAGA agitator Laura Loomer.

After his meeting with Merz, Trump continued to throw punches online.

Trump asserted that he had asked Musk to leave his administration and said the billionaire went ‘CRAZY!’

‘Elon was ‘wearing thin,’ I asked him to leave, I took away his EV Mandate that forced everyone to buy Electric Cars that nobody else wanted (that he knew for months I was going to do!), and he just went CRAZY!’ Trump wrote.

Elon Musk dramatically charged that President Donald Trump’s name appears in the files of known pedophile Jeffrey Epstein

This 1997 photo shows then real estate developer Donald Trump (right) alongside Jeffrey Epstein (left), the pedophile sex offender who died in prison in 2019

Trump didn’t directly respond to Musk’s Epstein charge, instead posting what amounted to a shrug on Truth Social, while also continuing to back the ‘big, beautiful bill.’

‘I don’t mind Elon turning against me, but he should have done so months ago,’ Trump wrote. ‘This is one of the Greatest Bills ever presented to Congress.’

Asked for comment, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told the Daily Mail in a statement: ‘This is an unfortunate episode from Elon, who is unhappy with the One Big Beautiful Bill because it does not include the policies he wanted.’

‘The President is focused on passing this historic piece of legislation and making our country great again,’ Leavitt added.