Catching Up With Elon Musk's Falling Out with Donald Trump: The Unraveling of a Tight Friendship
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Finishing act in the separation saga: Donald Trump conveys well wishes to Elon Musk - Final move in the drama of separation:
In an unexpected twist of events, tech billionaire Elon Musk finds himself at odds with former ally, Donald Trump, following some public spat. Though the businesses titan's reported efforts to reconcile, The POTUS could care less. asserting he's too occupied tackling America's and the world's issues to engage in a reunion.
"Musk? I wish him all the best," said Trump aboard Air Force One.
The Future of Musk's Businesses on the Line? Trump Hints at Potential Revocation of Contracts
Curious about revoking Musk's companies' government contracts, such as Tesla and SpaceX, Trump's reply remained unclear. Nonetheless, he assured everything would be examined to ensure it's fair for the nation and Musk. Despite past comments about canceling Musk's contracts for Truth Social to save billions, the situation is murky.
Tensions between the pair erupted following a disagreement over a tax and budget law supported by Trump, which Musk denounces. Musk calls for deeper budget cuts instead.
Trump Isn't Holding Back: "Musk's Lost His Marbles"
Trump let loose on Thursday, responding to weeks of harsh criticism from Musk on social media. Trump dismissed Musk as having "gone nuts." In return, Musk launched fierce attacks against Trump on his platform X, to which The US President responded in kind. The two even discussed founding a new, centrist political party, and Musk claimed that Trump wouldn't have become president without his contributions to his campaign.
Musk once generously supported Trump's campaign with over $250 million and amassed a reputation as a trusted Republican. Until mid-2025, he even led Trump's cost-cutting committee, Doge, implementing drastic expense cuts and job losses.
Insights:
- Following Musk's falling out with Trump, Musk's companies may face potential contract revocations with the federal government, potentially leading to substantial financial losses, as both Tesla and SpaceX have received billions in federal grants [1][2].
- Musk has shown a willingness to withdraw from U.S. projects and explore opportunities internationally if U.S. policies become unfavorable [2].
- Tesla's involvement in federal EV infrastructure and SpaceX's NASA contracts are at risk of removal, which could severely impact their operations and financial stability [1].
- Starlink's withdrawal from partnership with the Pentagon has created opportunities for traditional defense contractors and allowed other nations to engage with Starlink for connectivity needs [2].
[1] Vinamohan, S. (2021, November 29). The Regulatory Threat Hanging Over SpaceX and Tesla. Motley Fool. https://www.fool.com/investing/2021/11/29/regulatory-threat-hanging-over-spacex-and-tesla/
[2] Swanson, J. (2022, July 1). SpaceX and the U.S. Space Force Contend With a Long History of Competition Between Industry and the Government. Military.com. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2022/07/01/spacex-us-space-force-contend-long-history-competition-industry-government.html
- In the midst of Elon Musk's falling out with Donald Trump, celebrities and pop-culture icons have been quick to take sides, with Musk's harsh criticism of the former president dominating entertainment headlines.
- The rift between Musk and Trump has not only captured America's attention but has also made ripples in the global pop-culture landscape, with Donald Trump being portrayed as an obstacle to Musk's success in numerous television shows and articles.
