US President Donald Trump on Friday said that he has “no plans” to speak with Elon Musk, signalling a widening rift between the two former allies amid their public spat over a sweeping Republican tax-cut and spending bill.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said he was not “thinking about” Musk but wished him well with Tesla. “I’m not even thinking about Elon. The poor guy’s got a problem. I won’t be speaking to him for a while. But I wish him the best,” said the US President.
Trump has also privately questioned his aides about whether Elon Musk’s recent behavior could be linked to alleged drug use, CNN reported quoting sources.
Trump vs Musk feud
The feud marks a sharp deterioration in relations between Trump and Musk, who had previously shared a close political alliance. Musk funded a substantial portion of Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and was appointed to lead a controversial government effort to cut federal spending and reduce the workforce. However, Musk’s recent opposition to Trump’s signature tax and spending bill, which he labelled a “disgusting abomination,” has fuelled tensions.
What did Trump say?
Trump responded by threatening to review and potentially terminate Musk’s extensive government contracts, which include Tesla’s electric vehicle subsidies and SpaceX’s NASA and defence contracts. “We’ll take a look at everything. It’s a lot of money,” Trump said, emphasising fairness but signalling a possible crackdown on Musk’s federal subsidies
Following the fallout, a White House official revealed that Trump is considering selling the red Tesla Model S he purchased in March after previously showcasing Musk’s electric vehicles at the White House. The purchase was seen as a gesture of support for Musk’s company.
Musk’s continuous criticism of Trump govt policies
While Musk has not directly addressed Trump’s remarks, he has maintained his criticism of the Republican tax and spending bill on his social media platform X. Musk echoed others’ concerns that the bill would politically damage Republicans and worsen the national debt, which currently stands at $36.2 trillion. He also called for the formation of a new political party to represent the “80% in the middle,” signalling his growing disillusionment with the current US political landscape.
Musk’s opposition complicates efforts to pass the bill in the Senate, where Republicans hold a slim majority. House Speaker Mike Johnson has tried to engage Musk but has so far been unsuccessful in resolving their differences.