United States President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk’s once friendly relationship has descended into acrimony as the pair exchange threats and accusations on social media.
The feud puts about US$22 billion ($34 billion) in government contracts held by Musk’s SpaceX at risk, and multiple United States space programs could also face dramatic changes if the dispute escalates.
There are signs the pair could seek a truce. But if they don’t make peace, Musk could look for ways to diminish the president’s authority and “seek revenge,” according to a US politics expert.
How did the Trump-Musk bromance break down?
Trump said in a televised Oval Office diatribe on Thursday (local time) that he was “very disappointed” after his former aide and top donor criticised his “big, beautiful” spending bill before Congress.
The pair then hurled insults at each other on social media.
Musk hit back in real time on his X social media platform, saying the Republican would not have won the 2024 election without him and slamming Trump for “ingratitude”.
The tech billionaire also replied: “Yes,” to a post on X saying Trump should be impeached. Trump’s Republicans hold majorities in both chambers of Congress and are highly unlikely to impeach him.
Elon Musk and Donald Trump in the Oval Office on 30 May, when the president thanked him for leading the Department of Government Efficiency, which is not an official US federal department. Source: AAP, AP / Evan Vucci
Musk was the biggest financial supporter of Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, donating US$288 million ($442 million).
Trump noted this on Thursday, saying the pair “had a great relationship” but didn’t know if they would anymore.
Trump later called Musk “crazy” and insisted he had asked the tycoon to leave because he was “wearing thin”.
The US president Trump suggested hitting the entrepreneur where it hurts, threatening Musk’s multibillion-dollar government contracts including for launching rockets and for the use of the Starlink satellite service.
“The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts,” Trump said on Truth Social.
Again Musk fired back, with the SpaceX chief saying he would begin “decommissioning” his company’s Dragon spacecraft — vital for ferrying NASA astronauts to and from the International Space Station — in response.
He later appeared to walk that back, replying to a user on Twitter: “OK, we won’t decommission Dragon,” though his tone was unclear.
Was the relationship always doomed to fail?
Speculation had long swirled that a relationship between the world’s richest person and its most powerful could not last long — but the speed of the meltdown took Washington by surprise.
Dr John Hart, an emeritus professor at the Australian National University and a specialist in US politics, believes the Trump–Musk relationship, at its core, came down to monetary gain.
“Initially, the relationship was based on money,” Hart told SBS News.
“There were huge contributions that Musk made to Trump’s campaign … it was a phenomenal amount.”
The feud puts about US$22 billion ($34 billion) in government contracts held by Elon Musk’s SpaceX at risk, and multiple United States space programs could also face dramatic changes if the dispute escalates. Source: AAP
It wasn’t surprising the pair had fallen out, according to Hart, who said such disputes are part of a pattern of a Trump presidency.
Trump parted ways with multiple chiefs of staff, national security advisers and political strategists during his first term in 2017-2021.
“The relationship between Trump and Musk inevitably meant that Musk, the richest guy in the world, was going to have to share the limelight with Trump,” Hart said.
“And Trump’s ego is so great that that was always going to be difficult.”
A truce? Or an ‘explosive’ retaliation?
Politico reported that White House aides had scheduled a phone call between Musk and Trump on Friday (local time).
In a brief phone call between the news outlet and Trump, the US president reportedly said when asked about the public breakup: “Oh it’s okay,” and, “It’s going very well, never done better”.
And in another sign of a possible détente, Musk subsequently wrote: “You’re not wrong,” in response to billionaire investor Bill Ackman saying Trump and Musk should make peace.
But Hart predicted the pair could “seek revenge” and undermine the other’s influence.
But what might revenge look like? Hart said Musk could “hit back” at Trump by supporting his political rivals at the 2026 midterm elections.
Republicans currently hold majorities in both houses of Congress, and Hart said the key way to “rein in Trump’s influence” would be for some seats to flip to the Democrats.
“Money is everything in congressional elections,” he said. “So if Musk holds back support for Republican candidates who support Trump, the results could be explosive.”
And Trump could continue to go after government contracts that benefit Musk’s companies, Hart said.
— With reporting by the Reuters and Agence France-Presse news agencies.
