Former President Donald Trump has declared the end of his relationship with tech billionaire Elon Musk, issuing a stern warning on Saturday about “serious consequences” if Musk chooses to fund Democratic candidates opposing Republicans who support Trump’s expansive tax and spending bill.
In a candid phone interview with NBC News, Trump was pressed on the status of his alliance with Musk. “I would assume so, yeah,” he said when asked if the relationship was over. He made it clear he has no plans to reconnect. “No,” Trump replied flatly when questioned about making amends. “I have no intention of speaking to him.”
Despite the falling-out, Trump noted he hasn’t considered pulling the plug on U.S. government contracts involving Musk’s companies, such as SpaceX or the Starlink satellite internet network.
The once-strong alliance between the two billionaires has turned bitter in recent days. The feud escalated after Musk slammed Trump’s legislation as a “disgusting abomination” — a move that rattled Republican lawmakers trying to secure enough votes to push it through a deeply divided Congress.
Although the bill narrowly passed in the House last month, it now faces an uphill battle in the Senate. Analysts warn the measure could swell the national debt by $2.4 trillion over the next decade, prompting concern from budget-conscious Republicans.
Musk, known for his contrarian views, didn’t stop at policy critique. He called for the creation of a new centrist political party, claiming it would speak for the “80% in the middle.” The statement struck a nerve at a time when party unity is fragile.
Still, Trump exuded confidence. He told NBC the bill will likely pass by the Fourth of July holiday. “In fact, yeah, people that were going to vote for it are now enthusiastically going to vote for it,” he said.
Since assuming office for his second term on January 20, Trump has enjoyed near-unanimous support from Republicans in Congress, despite some expressing private misgivings to the media. None have publicly voted against his policies or appointments thus far.
Musk Backpedals as Feud Intensifies
In a subtle sign of possible reconciliation, Musk quietly deleted several posts on social platform X that took aim at Trump. One now-removed post endorsed Trump’s impeachment and suggested Vice President JD Vance should replace him. Musk had simply replied “yes” to the provocative comment, but that response has since vanished.
Neither Musk nor the White House provided a statement on the deleted posts. Insiders close to Musk suggest that while he was initially enraged, his tone is beginning to soften — and some believe he might eventually seek to rebuild ties.
On Thursday, as tensions were peaking, Vance appeared on comedian Theo Von’s This Past Weekend podcast, released Saturday. Vance defended Trump and criticized Musk’s attacks as a “huge mistake.”
“I’m always going to be loyal to the president,” Vance said. “I hope Elon comes back into the fold. Maybe that’s not possible now because he’s gone so nuclear. But I hope it is. He’s an incredible entrepreneur.”
Once Allies, Now Rivals
The timing of this rift is significant. Trump and Musk previously appeared together at high-profile events, including two UFC fights following Trump’s 2024 reelection. Trump is set to attend another UFC card in New Jersey on Saturday — this time, without Musk.
Musk, the world’s richest man, was a major financial force behind Trump’s 2024 campaign, reportedly contributing nearly $300 million. He also took credit for helping Republicans secure majorities in both the House and Senate in the last election cycle.
Trump even appointed Musk to lead a high-profile task force aimed at slashing federal spending. Just last week, Trump publicly praised Musk at the White House for his leadership in the Department of Government Efficiency. However, Musk’s results fell far short of expectations — cutting only 0.5% of the budget instead of his promised $2 trillion reduction.
Now, with tensions boiling over and alliances shifting, a crucial question looms: Is this the end of one of the most high-powered political partnerships in recent memory? Or merely a temporary rift in a relationship shaped as much by ambition as ideology?
