President Trump acknowledged a rift with Elon Musk, the entrepreneur who previously advised his administration. He expressed his disappointment with Musk’s recent opposition to his policies.
Trump stated to reporters while meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, “Elon and I were close, but I’m not sure that’s the case anymore. I feel let down by Elon, especially considering the support I’ve given him.”
These comments confirm a growing distance between two influential Republican figures. This follows Musk’s departure as head of the. Since then, Musk has been vocal about his disapproval of Trump’s “one big, beautiful bill,” which recently passed in the House but is expected to face challenges in the Senate. This bill, a key part of Trump’s domestic agenda, proposes broad tax cuts and federal spending reductions. However, it also eliminates incentives for electric vehicles, an industry central to Musk’s wealth and influence through Tesla.
Musk’s opposition began on Tuesday when he called the bill a “disgusting abomination.” He has since posted numerous criticisms, warning his followers (numbering over 200 million) that the bill will drastically increase the budget deficit. He urged them to pressure lawmakers to reject the bill. Further complicating matters, a new analysis this week projected the bill would add $2.4 trillion to the deficit over the next decade, despite over $1.2 trillion in planned spending cuts.
Musk spent heavily to support Trump and other Republican candidates in the past year. Now, he is threatening to financially back opponents of Trump’s bill. He posted that “In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people.”
While Trump and Musk previously praised each other publicly, including a send-off ceremony for Musk held by Trump recently, the President now claims Musk’s criticisms are motivated by self-interest.
Trump said that Musk was thoroughly familiar with every detail of the bill and had no objections until after his departure.
Trump accused Musk of being unhappy about the removal of electric vehicle subsidies, which had made Tesla vehicles more affordable. “He only developed the problem when he found out that we’re gonna have to cut the EV mandate,” Trump said. “I know that disturbed him.”
Trump also implied that their disagreement arose after he withdrew Jared Isaacman, a Musk associate and SpaceX-linked private astronaut, from consideration to lead NASA. This decision reportedly surprised Musk, who had supported Trump’s re-election campaign. Trump, in turn, criticized Musk’s backing of Isaacman, labeling him “totally Democrat” and implying he didn’t owe Musk any favors.
“Elon recommended somebody to run NASA and I didn’t think it was appropriate,” Trump said Thursday. “We won, we get privileges, and one of the privileges is we don’t have to appoint a Democrat.”
The President’s tone was noticeably restrained, contrasting with his usual combative approach towards critics. He even suggested Musk might be suffering from “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” a term he uses for former allies who become critical after leaving his administration.
“He’s not the first,” Trump said. “People leave my administration, and they love us, and then at some point they miss it so badly… they wake up in the morning, and the glamor is gone, and they become hostile.”
While Musk hasn’t personally attacked Trump, the President suggested this might be coming. “He hasn’t said [anything] bad about me personally, but I’m sure that’ll be next,” he said.
The timing of this division is politically sensitive. Trump aims to have the bill approved by July 4th, but it faces opposition from both Democrats and some fiscally conservative Republicans concerned about its impact on the national debt.
Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky told TIME that Musk’s criticism would likely embolden Republican skeptics in the House and Senate.
Last week, Musk expressed his hope to remain a “friend and advisor to the President” following his departure from the Administration.
“`
