The public spat between Donald Trump and Elon Musk is a stark reminder that even the most unlikely of friendships can sour. This once-powerful alliance has now turned into a bitter feud, playing out on social media for all to see. The tension reached a boiling point when Trump threatened to cut federal subsidies to Musk's companies, which include Tesla and SpaceX. In response, Musk made a baseless accusation about Trump's involvement with convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The White House chose not to comment on this accusation.

        This fallout marks the end of a surprising alliance that lasted longer than many expected. Musk, who had previously supported Democrats, became the biggest Republican donor in 2024. He poured nearly 300 million dollars into backing Trump's campaign. This shift in allegiance made Musk a prominent figure in Trump's inner circle. He was seen with Trump in various settings, from the Oval Office to Cabinet meetings, and even led the Department of Government Efficiency.  Musk's support for Trump was not just financial; he also endorsed Trump after an assassination attempt and created a super PAC to promote conservative principles.

        The relationship between Trump and Musk has been tumultuous from the start. Before 2024, Musk was critical of Trump and even resigned from advisory councils after Trump pulled out of the Paris climate accord. Trump, on the other hand, had called Musk a "b artist" and claimed Musk had told him he voted for him. Despite these past tensions, Musk endorsed Trump after the assassination attempt and later hosted an interview with him on X.  The interview was filled with technical delays and largely followed Trump's campaign speeches. Musk also pitched the idea of a "government efficiency commission" to Trump during this time.

        The partnership between Trump and Musk reached new heights in October 2024. Musk hit the campaign trail with Trump, wearing a custom "Make America Great Again" hat and describing himself as "dark MAGA. " He predicted that this would be the last election if Trump did not win. Musk also took the stage at another Trump rally and held a series of giveaways to voters in swing states. After Trump's victory, Musk celebrated by posting an AI-generated image of himself saluting the American flag. Trump thanked Musk in his victory speech, declaring, "A star is born — Elon! "

        The alliance between Trump and Musk faced significant challenges. In January 2025, Musk attended Trump's inauguration and sparked outrage with a salute associated with Nazis. He then joined the White House as an unpaid presidential advisor and became the most visible face of the Department of Government Efficiency. Despite his prominent role, Musk's tenure was marked by controversy. In February 2025, Trump and Musk appeared together in the Oval Office to defend the work of DOGE. They addressed concerns about conflicts of interest, with Trump stating that he would bar Musk from any government work that might create a conflict. Later that month, Musk joined Trump's first Cabinet meeting, where Trump introduced him as someone "sacrificing a lot" through his government work. The tension between Trump and Musk escalated in June 2025, with both men trading insults on social media. Trump accused Musk of being "crazy, " while Musk claimed that without his support, Trump would have lost the election. The feud highlights the volatile nature of their alliance and the challenges they faced in working together.

The Unlikely Duo: How Trump and Musk's Partnership Crumbled

Actions