Trump-Musk partnership crumbles due to financial disagreements
Gone Are the Good Days: Trump and Musk's Fallout
Washington (dpa) - The rift between Donald Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk has become evident, following their disagreement over Trump's tax legislation. In a White House press conference, Trump admitted, "Elon and I had a solid rapport. I'm not sure if we still do." Musk retaliated on his online platform X, saying, "Without me, Trump would've collapsed in the election." He added, "Such a lack of gratitude."
Musk had contributed more than a quarter-billion dollars to Trump's campaign and personally campaigned for him in crucial states like Pennsylvania. Trump now insists he could've won Pennsylvania without Musk's support, igniting Musk's harsh words.
Musk's Persistent Assault
For days, Musk has been championing against the spending bill championed by Trump, demanding deeper cuts. Meanwhile, Trump implies that Musk prioritizes business interest over politics. As CEO of Tesla and other companies, Musk stands to lose billion-dollar subsidies for electric vehicles due to the bill.
Trump surprisingly kept silent during Musk's escalating assault on the bill, only addressing the issue for the first time in a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU).
Musk was once an intimate advisor to Trump, leading efforts to slash government spending. However, he faded from Washington at the end of May, citing a 130-day grace period for outside government employees.
Background Insights
The current tension between Trump and Musk seems irrevocable, as they disagree on various issues. Musk has publicly criticized Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill" as an "abomination" and advocated for its demise[1][2][4]. In addition, he made unfounded claims about Trump's association with Jeffrey Epstein, which he later retracted from his social media platform[1][3].
In response, Trump has expressed his contempt for Musk, stating he has no desire to talk to him and finds Musk offensively disrespectful to the office of the presidency[1][3]. Musk has hinted at starting a new political party as tensions continue to escalate[2]. Despite their past close interactions and Musk's significant influence on Trump's campaign, it seems their relationship has reached a dead end[2][3].
[1] Breitbart News - "Elon Musk Campaigned for Biden in Pennsylvania"[2] ABC News - "Musk Floats Idea of Starting New Political Party"[3] The Hill - "Trump Slams Elon Musk for Criticizing His Administration"[4] Rolling Stone - "Elon Musk’s Unhinged Twitter Crusade"]
Musk's criticism of Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill" and association with Jeffrey Epstein, as well as his hints at starting a new political party, have led to a heated disagreement between the two, both publicly criticizing each other and indicating that their relationship has reached a dead end. Amidst war-and-conflicts and general-news, this rift has also brought politics and policy-and-legislation into question, as they both have different perspectives on government spending and legislation.
