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Elon Musk and Donald Trump had a public fallout after the latter criticised the US administration’s mega tax bill as a “disgusting abomination”.
Elon Musk and Donald Trump had a fierce public spat on Thursday. (Reuters Image)
It seems that the bromance between US President Donald Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk is over, after the latter publicly criticised the White House’s $4 trillion spending and tax bill, denouncing it as an “abomination”.
Trump on Thursday said he was “very disappointed” by Musk’s criticism of his “big and beautiful bill”, adding he didn’t know if his friendship with his billionaire former advisor would survive. Trump said Musk’s reaction was surprising given that he was aware of the workings of the bill.
The US president said Musk’s issues with the bill were related to its electric vehicle mandate. However, Musk hit back at these “false” claims, saying the bill was never shown to him and was passed in the dead of night in Congress.
False, 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! Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025
Here’s Why Trump, Musk Had A Fallout
Elon Musk served as a close adviser to Trump after playing a substantial role in his election victory. However, his public criticism of the tax bill signalled an escalating tension following Musk’s departure from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) last week.
While Musk and Trump remained friends and allies, the US President made the first public sign of being somewhat irritated with Musk’s remarks on the bill. Sources familiar with their relationship told Axios that the Tesla boss was frustrated at failing to win favourable treatment in the bill.
- Firstly, the bill reduced the electric vehicle tax credit that helps car makers like Tesla. Musk’s company had spent at least $240,000 lobbying on behalf of the credit and other company matters. The world’s richest man had advocated for the measure in the bill, but to no avail.
- Additionally, Musk had initially tried to stay in the “special government employee” role beyond the 130-day time limit set for the unpaid advisory position. However, he was told by White House officials that he could not keep serving in that capacity.
- Musk also wanted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to use his Starlink satellite system for national air traffic control, according to the sources. The White House refused the suggestion because of conflict of interest and technological reasons.
- The final straw came when Trump abruptly announced he was withdrawing the nomination of Jared Isaacman to be NASA administrator. Isaacman was backed by Musk. Trump said he could understand why Musk was upset with some steps, including the withdrawal of Isaacman’s nomination.
- After Isaacman’s nomination was dropped, reports surfaced that Sergio Gor,the director of the Office of Presidential Personnel who had clashed with Musk, was behind the decision. “This was Sergio’s out-the-door ‘f**k you’ to Musk,” a White House official said.
However, senators had complained about Isaacman for being a Democratic donor, according to White House insiders. Trump himself repeated the claims, saying Isaacman was “totally Democrat”.
Musk’s Says ‘Whatever’ To Trump’s Claim
Taking to X, Musk fired back at Trump’s claim that he was upset over the elimination of EV credits in the legislation, saying, “Whatever. Keep the EV/solar incentive cuts in the bill, even though no oil & gas subsidies are touched (very unfair!!), but ditch the MOUNTAIN of DISGUSTING PORK in the bill.”
He then wrote “false” after Trump said Musk had advance sight of the so-called “big, beautiful” bill. “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!”
As the rift deepened, Musk asserted that without his involvement, Donald Trump would have lost the 2024 election, accusing him of “ingratitude”.
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international…Read More
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international… Read More
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Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
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