President Donald Trump and Elon Musk entered a rift in their relationship over the president’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” after the pair emerged as close allies during the 2024 campaign.
Why It Matters
Musk’s support for Trump, including massive amounts of spending on his campaign, became a major story of last year’s election, and Musk became increasingly tied to the administration through his work in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a task force aimed at reducing wasteful spending.
However, Musk, who has taken a step back from his work in government, has become increasingly critical of the president’s cornerstone legislation in recent days, underscoring divisions within the GOP about the Trump presidency and spending.
Newsweek Illustration/Canva/Getty
What To Know
In recent days, Musk has been increasingly critical of Trump over the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which includes an extension of his signature tax cuts and spending for other priorities, such as border security, because of concerns about the national debt. Musk ramped up his criticism of Trump on Thursday, writing in a post on his X, formerly Twitter, that Republicans would not have won in 2024 without his support.
“Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate,” Musk wrote.
Trump hit back on Truth Social, writing: “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!”
Costas Panagopoulos, professor of political science at Northeastern University, told Newsweek the rift is unsurprising.
“It appears to be the case that Musk switched allegiances to Trumpand GOP when it served his interests,” he said. “When people make changes for instrumental reasons like that, it’s not unusual for them to sever ties with those groups and individuals if their interests are no longer being served.”
Musk: Trump Not ‘Right Guy’ To Become President
Prior to shifting to the right in recent years, Musk was a Trump critic for parts of the president’s first term.
The Tesla CEO told CNBC in 2016 that he felt “a bit stronger that [Trump] is not the right guy” to become president, adding that he “doesn’t seem to have the sort of character that reflects well on the United States.”
Musk backed former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016 and former President Joe Biden in 2020 but worked with Trump at times during his first term. He said in 2017 that simply attacking Trump would “achieve nothing,” calling for “open channels of communication” with the president.
NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images
Musk Ends Support For Democratic Party
Ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, Musk announced that he would no longer support the Democratic Party in a post on X, as he moved to the right and became mostly aligned with the GOP.
“In the past I voted Democrat, because they were (mostly) the kindness party,” Musk wrote on X. “But they have become the party of division & hate, so I can no longer support them and will vote Republican. Now, watch their dirty tricks campaign against me unfold…”
In June of that year, Musk said he was “undecided” about whether to support Trump’s 2024 presidential bid over Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, at the time viewed as a potential alternative to Trump.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Musk Supports Republican For President, But Not Trump
Musk initially supported DeSantis in 2023. In fact, DeSantis announced his campaign during a discussion with Musk on X in May 2023. Ultimately, DeSantis struggled to gain traction in the primary as Trump remained popular with Republican voters.
But Musk soon shifted his attention to another candidate—the former president himself.
Musk Endorses Trump, Becomes Major Donor
Musk formally endorsed Trump on July 13, 2024, after Trump’s attempted assassination during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
“I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery,” Musk said.
In the weeks that followed, Musk became a top Trump donor. The Washington Post reported that Musk spent $288 million on Trump and other Republicans ahead of their victories in November. Musk also appeared on the campaign trail for Trump, rallying for him in battleground states like Pennsylvania that he went on to win in November.
During Trump’s presidential transition, some critics noted that Musk took on an increasingly visible role, with some referring to him as “President Musk,” although the two remained close allies. Musk played a key role in killing a Republican-supported government funding bill, a move many believed underscored his influence over the president.
JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images
Trump Brings Musk Into Administration
Following his victory, Trump announced DOGE, which would be led by Musk and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who instead opted to run for governor in Ohio rather than co-lead the task force.
Musk became perhaps the most known member of Trump’s administration other than the president himself, frequently drawing attention and backlash over his recommended cuts to federal spending. The two continued to offer praise for each other throughout the first few months of Trump’s second term. In April, Trump said he wanted Musk to keep working with him for “as long as possible.”
DOGE estimates that it saved $180 billion since January, according to its wall of receipts. It has announced many types of cuts from real estate to the firings of federal workers.
While Trump and Musk remained close, Musk was met with skepticism from other Trump allies, such as Steve Bannon, who said in December 2024 that he disagreed with Musk on most political issues.
Musk Takes Step Back From DOGE
Musk said in April that he planned to take a step back from DOGE and refocus his efforts on Tesla amid the company’s financial challenges and backlash from consumers who took issue with his role in the administration.
Last week, he said he would leave DOGE but that its work would continue. He also said that he plans to cut back on political spending.
Shortly after his departure, Musk raised concerns about the effect Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” would have on the national debt, sparking the rift between the two.
“I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it,” Musk wrote on X.
On Thursday, Musk posted on X that Trump wouldn’t have won reelection without him, sparking a response from the president.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Trump Responds To Musk
Trump responded to Musk in remarks in the Oval Office on Thursday.
“Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore. I was surprised,” Trump said. “You were here. Everybody in this room practically was here as we had a wonderful send-off. He said wonderful things about me. You couldn’t have nicer—said the best things. He’s worn the hat. ‘Trump was right about everything, and I am right about the Great Big Beautiful Bill.'”
Musk Hits Trump With Epstein Files Claim
Later on Thursday, Musk posted: “Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!”
Musk did not specify the context in which Trump is allegedly in the files.
What People Are Saying
Costas Panagopoulos, professor of political science at Northeastern University, told Newsweek: “Criticism by Musk is serious because it is characterized by a proximity to Trump and his thinking and his strategy that is rare, even still, in American politics, given how closely they worked together at the start of Trump’s second term. Musk is uniquely positioned to be a forceful Trump critic if he chooses to be.”
Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, on X: “Some politicians get into politics to enrich themselves. Maybe that’s why they can’t imagine someone would judge a bill based on what’s good for the country instead of what’s good for their wallet.”
What Happens Next
It’s unclear how the Trump-Musk feud will continue to unfold in the coming days and weeks.
