Trump Warns Elon Musk Against Backing Democrats Politically \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Donald Trump declared he’s cutting ties with Elon Musk, citing the billionaire’s criticism and possible support for Democrats. The feud escalated online, with Musk calling for Trump’s impeachment and referencing Epstein. Vice President JD Vance downplayed the spat, defending both Trump and the controversial bill Musk opposed.
Quick Looks
- Trump says relationship with Musk is likely over.
- Warns of “serious consequences” if Musk backs Democrats.
- Musk called Trump’s bill “a disgusting abomination.”
- Social media spat escalated to Epstein accusations.
- Musk later deleted controversial posts.
- JD Vance calls Musk an “emotional guy,” but hopes for reconciliation.
- Vance defends Trump’s tax bill and presidency.
- Interview taped at Kid Rock’s restaurant with Theo Von.
Deep Look
President Donald Trump’s rift with Elon Musk has reached a dramatic breaking point, signaling a significant shift in one of the most high-profile alliances of recent American politics. Once seen as powerful collaborators during Trump’s first term, the relationship between the 45th and now 47th president and the tech mogul has unraveled into a full-scale political and personal conflict—with potentially seismic consequences for business, policy, and the 2026 midterm elections.
In a phone interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker, President Trump confirmed he has no interest in repairing his relationship with Musk. When asked whether the friendship was officially over, Trump said, “I would assume so, yeah.” The president went on to declare he is focused on more pressing matters, referencing his return to the White House. “I’m too busy doing other things,” he said. “You know, I won an election in a landslide. I gave him a lot of breaks, long before this happened… I saved his life in my first administration. I have no intention of speaking to him.”
The fallout marks a sharp reversal from the previous warmth between Trump and Musk. During Trump’s first term, the administration provided substantial support to Musk’s ventures, including preferential regulatory treatment and generous federal contracts with Tesla, SpaceX, and the now-defunct Hyperloop project. Musk was often praised by conservative lawmakers as a model innovator and capitalist.
But recent tensions escalated following Musk’s outspoken criticism of Trump’s current legislative agenda—specifically the president’s flagship tax and budget bill, which Musk publicly labeled “a disgusting abomination.” The bill, currently moving through Congress, aims to extend the 2017 Trump tax cuts while reducing government spending. However, it has drawn backlash due to projections from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office that it could increase the deficit by $2.4 trillion over a decade and leave nearly 11 million Americans without health insurance.
Musk took his criticism a step further, launching an unusually personal and incendiary attack on Trump via his social platform X (formerly Twitter). In a series of since-deleted posts, Musk called for President Trump to be impeached and claimed—without providing any evidence—that the Trump administration had concealed documents linking the president to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. The accusations were seen as a low blow and prompted immediate reactions from both the White House and Trump allies in Congress.
In response, Trump reportedly lashed out at Musk during Oval Office meetings and made thinly veiled public threats. He suggested that Musk’s support for Democratic candidates in the upcoming 2026 midterms could result in “serious consequences.” While Trump did not specify what those consequences might be, many noted the dependence of Musk’s companies on federal government contracts—implying that retaliation could come in the form of regulatory or financial pressure.
“If he does, he’ll have to pay the consequences for that,” Trump said, referring to any possible support Musk might lend to Democrats. The message was clear: loyalty is expected, and defection will not be tolerated.
Vice President JD Vance attempted to defuse the feud in a separate interview taped Thursday with comedian and Trump supporter Theo Von at a Nashville restaurant owned by musician Kid Rock. Vance, known for his strong allegiance to Trump, acknowledged the seriousness of the situation but struck a conciliatory tone. “I hope that eventually Elon comes back into the fold,” Vance said. “Maybe that’s not possible now because he’s gone so nuclear.”
Vance described Musk as “an incredible entrepreneur” but an “emotional guy” who had perhaps let his frustration get the better of him. He also strongly denied Musk’s accusations regarding Epstein, telling Von, “Absolutely not. Donald Trump didn’t do anything wrong with Jeffrey Epstein.” Vance dismissed Musk’s call for Trump to be impeached and replaced by Vance himself as “totally insane,” reiterating his confidence in Trump’s leadership: “The president is doing a good job.”
Vance used the interview to defend the bill at the heart of Musk’s ire. He acknowledged its flaws but said the goal was never to balance the budget in the short term but rather to secure long-term tax relief by locking in the 2017 tax cuts. “It’s a good bill,” Vance said. “It’s not a perfect bill.” He also praised Musk’s past role in government, especially the Department of Government Efficiency—an agency Musk helped lead during Trump’s first term, which focused on cutting federal bureaucracy and reducing labor costs.
The setting of the interview only underscored the cultural overlap between Trump’s political movement and his most ardent supporters. Theo Von, known for provocative jokes and viral internet humor, previously opened for Trump at a military base in Qatar. His inclusion in the political dialogue highlights how entertainment, politics, and business are increasingly intertwined in Trump’s second term.
This public fracture between President Trump and Elon Musk represents more than just a clash of egos. It reveals deeper tensions within the conservative movement about the role of government, the tech elite, and loyalty to Trump. As the 2026 midterm elections approach, Musk’s political influence—amplified by his control of a major social media platform and his broad base of libertarian-leaning followers—could pose a strategic challenge to Trump’s efforts to consolidate power within the Republican Party.
Should Musk pivot toward Democrats or launch his own political movement, the fallout could reshape the GOP’s electoral map. Conversely, if Trump chooses to follow through on his implied threats, the tech mogul’s federal contracts could face renewed scrutiny and jeopardy, adding another layer of volatility to an already unstable alliance.
What began as a mutually beneficial partnership between America’s most powerful political figure and its richest entrepreneur has now deteriorated into a public feud with national stakes.
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