Former U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly confirmed the dissolution of his once-close partnership with tech mogul Elon Musk, marking a dramatic rupture between two of the world's most influential figures. The announcement came during a weekend interview where Trump expressed no desire to repair the fractured relationship.
"I would assume so, yeah," Trump stated to NBC News when questioned about the status of their alliance. Asked directly if he wished to reconcile, the former president responded with a terse: "No." This acknowledgment follows weeks of escalating tensions that culminated in a highly public clash across social media platforms.
Policy Dispute Ignites Conflict
The rift originated from Musk's vocal opposition to Trump's signature legislative initiative, colloquially known as the "Big Beautiful Bill." Despite having contributed approximately $250 million to Trump's presidential campaign and serving a brief 129-day tenure leading the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), Musk launched repeated critiques of the tax and spending package. He argued the proposal risked adding trillions to the national debt and would "undermine" his department's cost-cutting initiatives.
Musk's criticism intensified shortly after departing his government position, when he labeled the bill a "disgusting abomination" on his social media platform, X. Although initially avoiding direct censure of Trump, the situation deteriorated rapidly last week.
Social Media Warfare Erupts
Trump initially expressed disappointment with Musk's conduct, prompting the billionaire to retaliate with inflammatory posts. Musk controversially claimed Trump "would have lost the election without him" and made unverified allegations linking Trump to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Musk later removed the Epstein-related post after the financier's lawyer issued denials.
Trump counterattacked vehemently on Truth Social, accusing Musk of having "gone crazy" and threatening retaliation against his companies' federal contracts. During his NBC interview, Trump emphasized: "He's been disrespectful to the office of the president... You could not disrespect the office of the president."
Political Fallout Widens
The schism has drawn reactions from Trump's inner circle, with Vice-President JD Vance condemning Musk's actions as having "gone so nuclear" and suggesting the billionaire may face permanent exclusion from Republican circles. Vance characterized Musk's critique of Trump as a "big mistake."
Musk has signaled potential political repercussions, suggesting he might finance primary challengers against Republican lawmakers who endorsed Trump's legislation. When questioned about this threat, Trump warned of "serious consequences" should Musk support Democratic candidates opposing GOP incumbents.
This rupture represents a stunning reversal from their previous alliance, which saw Musk as both a major financial backer and a key administration figure. Observers now speculate whether Musk's substantial influence and resources will reshape the upcoming midterm election landscape as this high-profile feud continues to unfold.
