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Trump and Musk’s Political Alliance Implodes in Public Feud

Trump and Musk’s Political Alliance Implodes in Public Feud/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Trump expressed “disappointment” with Elon Musk after the Tesla CEO denounced his signature tax bill. Musk, once an advisor and backer, now calls the legislation a “disgusting abomination.” The fallout marks a dramatic shift in their political alliance.

President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Trump Musk Tax Feud Quick Looks

  • Trump criticized Elon Musk for attacking the GOP tax bill.
  • Musk has labeled the bill a “disgusting abomination.”
  • Their once-close relationship has deteriorated rapidly.
  • Trump claims Musk previously supported the legislation.
  • Musk resurfaced Trump’s past debt limit comments on X.
  • Trump says, “I’ve helped Elon a lot” but feels betrayed.
  • Musk exited his White House advisory role days before the fallout.
  • The Republican bill faces a tough battle in the Senate.
Elon Musk’s Twitter (X) response during Trump’s meeting with German Chancellor at White House. Trump said he is ‘Disappointed’ with Musk over blasting Tax Cuts Bill.

Trump Says He’s ‘Disappointed’ As Musk Blasts GOP Tax Plan, Musk Responds on X

Deep Look

Trump ‘Disappointed’ as Elon Musk Turns Against Republican Tax Bill

WASHINGTON — A once-formidable political alliance between former White House advisor Elon Musk and President Donald Trump has unraveled in a storm of public criticism over the Republican-led tax and spending package. Speaking from the Oval Office during a bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, President Trump told reporters Thursday that he is “very disappointed” in Musk following the Tesla CEO’s scathing social media attacks on the administration’s signature legislative achievement.

Trump’s remarks reflect rising tensions between the two high-profile figures who previously enjoyed a warm relationship. Musk, who has referred to the bill as a “disgusting abomination,” left his role as an informal White House advisor just days ago. Since then, he has unleashed a steady barrage of criticism against what Trump calls his “Big, Beautiful Bill.”

“Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore,” Trump said, visibly frustrated. “I’m sure that’ll be next. But I’m very disappointed in Elon. I’ve helped Elon a lot.”

Musk’s Sudden Break and Online Rampage

The fallout comes after Musk launched a three-day online offensive against the GOP’s tax reconciliation bill, sharing a series of posts and memes via X (formerly Twitter), the platform he owns. Musk has argued that the legislation would balloon the federal deficit and serve wealthy corporations at the expense of fiscal responsibility.

In one post, Musk resurfaced Trump’s old social media remarks criticizing Republican efforts to extend the debt ceiling, using them to mock the president’s current spending initiatives.

“What happened to fiscal conservatism?” Musk asked sarcastically in one caption, tagging Trump’s official account.

According to a source close to the situation, the two men have not spoken since Musk exited his advisory role. While Trump stopped short of accusing Musk of personal betrayal, he said Musk had been thoroughly involved in shaping the bill and only began expressing concerns after stepping away.

“He knew every aspect of this bill,” Trump said. “He knew it better than almost anybody, and he never had a problem until right after he left.”

A Political Alliance Unraveled

The Trump-Musk partnership, once heralded by Republican strategists as a blend of business savvy and political power, had been central to promoting pro-business reforms. Musk’s support helped frame the GOP tax proposal as tech- and innovation-friendly.

Musk had previously endorsed many of Trump’s economic goals and frequently appeared at events supporting his agenda. However, their ideological bond has now fractured along fault lines of fiscal policy, with Musk painting the tax bill as a reckless expansion of government spending.

Trump’s public response to Musk’s pivot is a mixture of surprise and disappointment, suggesting that he had expected continued loyalty. “I’ve helped Elon a lot,” he reiterated, referencing past support for Tesla’s operations and broader innovation policy under his administration.

Legislation Under Fire

The Republican tax bill, nicknamed the “Big, Beautiful Bill” by Trump, passed the House last week but faces an uphill battle in the Senate. The legislation is a sweeping combination of tax cuts, energy incentives, and infrastructure funds—features that had, until recently, drawn Musk’s approval.

With growing opposition from fiscal conservatives and now a powerful tech magnate, the bill’s future is increasingly uncertain. Musk’s criticism has amplified public scrutiny and emboldened critics who argue the legislation lacks long-term economic responsibility.

Despite Trump’s public rebuke, Musk has shown no sign of slowing his attacks. Analysts suggest this public feud could have ripple effects for both Republican messaging and Musk’s broader political positioning.

As Trump spoke to reporters at the White House on Thursday, Musk was watching.

“False,” he fired back on his social media platform as the president continued speaking. “This bill was never shown to me even once and was passed in the dead of night so fast that almost no one in Congress could even read it!”

Trump said Musk, the CEO and founder of Tesla, “only developed a problem” with the bill because it rolls back tax credits for electric vehicles.

“Whatever,” Musk snapped back in a post on X responding to a video clip of the moment.

He went on and said Trump could keep the cuts but should “ditch the MOUNTAIN of DISGUSTING PORK in the bill.”

The bill would unleash trillions of dollars in tax cuts and slash spending but also spike deficits by $2.4 trillion over a decade and leave some 10.9 million more people without health insurance, according to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office, which for decades has served as the official scorekeeper of legislation in Congress.

Unraveling the Timeline

  • May 30, 2025: Musk exits White House advisory role.
  • June 1–3: Musk begins posting criticisms of the tax bill on X.
  • June 4: Musk refers to Trump’s bill as a “disgusting abomination.”
  • June 5: Trump responds publicly from the Oval Office, saying, “I’m very disappointed in Elon.”

This rapid deterioration of their relationship illustrates the fragile nature of political alliances, especially when built on convenience rather than shared values.



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