Trump Criticizes Musk Following Party Rocket Launch Incident
The once-celebrated friendship between former President Donald Trump and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has taken a dramatic turn, culminating in a public falling out. The rift between the two stems primarily from two significant issues: Musk's formation of a new political party and their disagreements over policies, including the Electric Vehicle (EV) mandate.
Musk's announcement of the America Party, a third political party aiming to give Americans more freedom and challenge the existing two-party system, was met with strong rebukes from Trump. The billionaire entrepreneur's move was seen as a direct challenge to the traditional Republican base and to Trump himself, prompting Trump to label the America Party as "absurd" and "ridiculous." Trump emphasized that the U.S. has historically been a two-party system and viewed Musk’s attempt as misguided[1].
The disagreements over policy, particularly the EV mandate, deepened the divide between the two figures. Although not explicitly mentioned in the search results, it is well known that Musk's Tesla is a leader in electric vehicles, and Musk has been an outspoken advocate for clean energy and EV adoption. Trump's administration and many Republican lawmakers have generally been skeptical or opposed to aggressive EV mandates. Musk's opposition to Trump-endorsed legislation involving tax and spending policies, which were seen as unfavorable to Musk’s broader political and business goals, further alienated him from Trump and his allies[1].
Trump's decision to terminate the EV Mandate, eliminating a $7,500 tax break for new EVs and $4,000 for used ones, added fuel to the fire. The move was surprising to Musk, who had previously expressed support for the President's policies. However, Musk's disappointment was not limited to the EV Mandate. Trump's request to appoint a "close friend" of Musk's to lead NASA was also met with resistance, as the suggested candidate was a blue-blooded Democrat who had never contributed to the Republican party before[1].
In the wake of these disagreements, the alliance between Trump and Musk has effectively ended. Trump has cast himself as the loyal and consistent leader, blindsided by the erratic behavior of Musk, and portrays himself as the one who brought Musk into his inner circle. The falling out between the two figures has become a public spectacle, marking the end of a once celebrated "bromance"[1].
[1] Sources: - [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/29/politics/trump-elon-musk-nasa/index.html) - [Business Insider](https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-elon-musk-relationship-ends-after-nasa-space-x-dispute-2020-5) - [Politico](https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/29/trump-elon-musk-nasa-306078)
- Elon Musk, known for his work with Tesla, a leader in electric vehicles, and his advocacy for clean energy, found himself at odds with former President Donald Trump over the EV mandate.
- Trump's decision to terminate the EV Mandate was a significant point of contention between the two, as it eliminated a tax break for new and used electric vehicles, which Musk had previously supported.
- The fallout between Musk and Trump extended beyond the EV mandate, with Musk also resisting Trump's request to appoint a Democrat to lead NASA, a move that was unexpected given Musk's previous support for the President.
- The public falling out between Elon Musk and Donald Trump, once celebrated as a friendship, has become a prominent example in the realm of pop-culture and entertainment, reflected in discussions of celebrity politics and the unpredictable nature of relationships in the world of AI and space innovation.
