The Trump-Musk implosion

By Newsflash Team

WASHINGTON, June 6 -When Donald Trump held a private meeting with senior White House staff on Wednesday, there were no clear signs that the president was on the verge of publicly distancing himself from Elon Musk — the billionaire entrepreneur who played a pivotal role in securing Trump’s re-election.

According to two officials familiar with the meeting, Trump expressed bewilderment and irritation over Musk’s sharp criticisms of his expansive tax and spending proposal. However, he chose not to react publicly, hoping to maintain Musk’s influential backing — both politically and financially — in the lead-up to the 2026 midterms.

But by Thursday afternoon, Trump’s tone had soured. Despite not speaking with Musk since the criticism began, Trump was reportedly incensed by what a staffer called a “completely batshit” outburst from the Tesla chief on X, Musk’s social media site.

By Friday, a White House source confirmed that Trump had no interest in engaging with Musk and that no call between the two was scheduled.

Musk had fiercely condemned Trump’s tax bill, branding it financially irresponsible and a “disgusting abomination.” He warned he would oppose any Republican lawmakers who supported it. The bill aligns with many of Trump’s goals, but the Congressional Budget Office estimates it would increase the national debt by $2.4 trillion, pushing it to $36.2 trillion.

Trump: Must is unpredictable

In private, Trump has referred to Musk as unpredictable. On Thursday, he told aides it was time to respond more forcefully.

Seated beside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office, Trump told reporters he was “deeply disappointed” in Musk, who once served as a close adviser. Musk quickly responded online, and the exchange escalated.

“The fastest way to cut billions from the budget is to eliminate Elon’s government subsidies and contracts,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. Musk replied within minutes, suggesting the formation of a new political party and endorsing a post on X by right-wing activist Ian Miles Cheong advocating for Trump’s impeachment.

At its peak, the Trump-Musk alliance was unprecedented in Washington — a sitting president granting a tech billionaire extraordinary influence within his administration. Musk spent nearly $300 million backing Trump’s campaign and GOP candidates last year.

Musk operated as both an insider and a disruptor — influencing policy behind closed doors, boosting Trump’s messaging online, and attacking bloated government spending through his self-created Department of Government Efficiency.

Just last week, Trump held a farewell event for Musk and declared, “Elon isn’t really going anywhere.”

Now, Musk had not only exited — he had become one of Trump’s most vocal critics. A third White House official expressed disbelief at how rapidly the relationship deteriorated. It “shocked the president and everyone in the West Wing,” she said.

Musk did not respond to inquiries about the falling-out. His super PAC, America PAC, and spokeswoman Katie Miller also declined to comment.

The White House, in a statement, called the fallout an “unfortunate episode from Elon, who is upset that the One Big Beautiful Bill doesn’t reflect his preferred policies.”

From partners to opponents

News of the rift caused Tesla’s stock to drop 14% on Thursday, sparking concern among Trump-aligned lawmakers trying to push through the major spending bill. Tesla shares recovered slightly on Friday.

The political and personal rupture could reshape both men’s futures. For Trump, the loss of Musk’s support could weaken his ties to tech donors, social media audiences, and young male voters — key demographics that might now drift away. It may also create hurdles for his midterm fundraising efforts.

For Musk, the risks are arguably greater. The fallout could lead to increased scrutiny of his business dealings, put lucrative federal contracts at risk, and invite regulatory investigations that could threaten his corporate empire.

Elon Musk (left) and US President Donald Trump in happier times. Photo/BBC

Many of Musk’s allies were reportedly shocked by the split, with some recently expressing confidence that the alliance would hold, according to two additional sources familiar with the relationship.

The tensions had been brewing for weeks, said the initial two officials, but things boiled over when Trump withdrew his nomination of Jared Isaacman — Musk’s handpicked choice for NASA administrator.

“Musk was furious,” one official said.

Isaacman, a billionaire tech executive and a key Musk ally, was considered instrumental to Musk’s vision of space exploration and commercialization. After the nomination was pulled, Isaacman posted on X, “I’m extremely thankful to President Trump, the Senate, and everyone who supported me.”

Musk’s waning influence

Internally, the decision was seen as a deliberate slight to Musk, signaling his waning influence within the administration, said the two sources.

Even before that, senior aides had begun quietly scaling back Musk’s sway — limiting his role in staffing and budget decisions. Trump made it clear in early March that cabinet secretaries, not Musk, would have final authority in their departments.

Around the same time, Musk hinted his time in government was nearing an end, and voiced frustration over his inability to enforce deeper spending cuts.

His criticism of Trump’s bill grew louder, but few inside the White House believed it would derail the legislation — though there were concerns it could affect GOP political momentum, said the first two officials.

Still, a fourth official played down the fallout.

“We remain confident,” he said. “No one’s changed their position.” But there was visible confusion within the West Wing about how a once-strong alliance celebrated just days earlier had unraveled so dramatically.

Whether reconciliation is possible remains to be seen.