WASHINGTON — A bitter public feud between President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk intensified on Thursday, with both men trading personal attacks and political threats in a dramatic escalation that included an unsubstantiated claim by Musk linking Trump to the Jeffrey Epstein files.
The dispute began after Musk criticized the president’s sweeping domestic spending plan, the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” and culminated in a series of confrontational social media exchanges. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said he was “very disappointed” in Musk, accusing him of ingratitude and erratic behavior.
Musk responded in real time on X (formerly Twitter), not only criticizing the bill’s $3 trillion projected cost over the next decade but also alleging—without evidence—that Trump’s name appears in sealed documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. “Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files,” Musk posted. “That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!”
In a follow-up post, Musk added: “Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out.”
Trump has previously denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, stating that he was never on Epstein’s private jet or island. His name, however, has appeared in publicly available flight logs and Epstein’s personal contacts.
Musk’s Political Fallout
Musk, a major donor to Republican causes, claimed that without his financial backing in 2024—reportedly over $270 million—Trump would have lost the election and Democrats would have held the House. In one post, Musk lamented what he called Trump’s “ingratitude” and even endorsed a call for Trump’s impeachment, suggesting Vice President JD Vance should replace him.
As tensions escalated, Trump hit back by threatening to revoke government contracts and subsidies tied to Musk’s companies, including Tesla and SpaceX. “The easiest way to save money is to terminate Elon’s government subsidies and contracts,” Trump posted on his own social platform. “He just went CRAZY!”
Policy Clashes and Personal Jabs
The feud highlights stark policy disagreements between the two powerful figures. Musk has denounced Trump’s tariff policy and criticized the president’s spending bill, which includes extended tax cuts, increases in military and border security spending, and reductions in Medicaid and food assistance programs. The bill passed the House by a narrow margin and now faces resistance in the Senate, particularly from fiscal conservatives.
Musk claimed the bill would drive the U.S. into a recession by the second half of 2025. He also accused Trump of dishonesty, saying the bill was never shown to him and was rushed through Congress. “False,” Musk wrote on X. “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!”
A Personal Break
Trump alleged that Musk’s real frustration stems from the bill’s proposed removal of electric vehicle tax credits—an issue Musk reportedly lobbied lawmakers on behind the scenes. “He had no problem with it. All of a sudden, he had a problem,” Trump said.
Despite the deepening divide, Trump acknowledged their once-close relationship. “Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore,” he said.
Adding a surreal touch, two sources confirmed that the Tesla Trump previously bought to show support for Musk remains on the White House grounds.
The White House declined to comment. Musk’s representatives have not responded to requests for comment.
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