Former U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly declared the end of his relationship with billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, warning that any move by Musk to support Democratic candidates against Republican lawmakers backing his administration’s landmark tax and spending bill will attract “serious consequences.”
In a phone interview with NBC News on Saturday, Trump was asked directly whether his association with the Tesla and SpaceX founder was over. He replied bluntly, “I would assume so, yeah.” The former president made it clear he has no interest in mending fences with Musk, stating, “I have no intention of speaking to him.”
The fallout between the two high-profile figures follows Musk’s outspoken criticism of Trump’s controversial tax and spending legislation, which he labelled a “disgusting abomination” on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Musk’s opposition has further complicated an already delicate situation in the U.S. Congress, where the Republican Party, despite holding narrow majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, is struggling to push the bill through amid internal fiscal concerns.
Although Trump was adamant about cutting personal ties, he clarified that he had not considered terminating federal contracts currently held by Musk’s companies, including Starlink and SpaceX, which are vital players in U.S. communications and aerospace sectors respectively. These projects, particularly Starlink’s satellite internet network, play crucial roles in both military and civilian connectivity across various regions.
Despite the brewing tension, Trump expressed strong confidence that the bill would ultimately pass before America’s Independence Day celebration on July 4th. According to him, even some Republicans who were initially hesitant are now showing enthusiasm to support the legislation. “In fact, yeah, people that were going to vote for it are now enthusiastically going to vote for it, and we expect it to pass,” Trump stated.
The bill, currently under consideration in the U.S. Senate, has drawn criticism from nonpartisan budget analysts who estimate that it would add approximately $2.4 trillion to the existing $36.2 trillion national debt over a decade. This projection has fueled concerns, especially among fiscal conservatives within Trump’s party, some of whom have been quietly uneasy about the president’s economic strategies but have not openly opposed his policies in any legislative votes.
Musk, meanwhile, appears to be softening his stance. Although he recently suggested the need for a new centrist political party to represent what he termed “the 80 per cent in the middle,” the billionaire has since deleted several posts critical of Trump, including one that endorsed calls for the president’s impeachment. One such post had Musk replying “yes” to a user who suggested that Vice President JD Vance should replace Trump following impeachment. These deletions have been interpreted by observers as a possible attempt to de-escalate the public confrontation.
However, Trump seems unfazed by Musk’s social media backtracking. The former president remains focused on advancing his legislative agenda as he enters his second term in office following his re-election in January 2025. Notably, his policies have continued to enjoy widespread backing within the Republican establishment, even though a few lawmakers have voiced muted reservations in media interviews.
In a related development, Vice President JD Vance, while speaking on Theo Von’s “This Past Weekend” podcast, recorded as the feud was intensifying, described Musk’s criticism of Trump as a “huge mistake,” suggesting disapproval within the administration about Musk’s approach.
As the political drama unfolds, neither the White House nor representatives of Musk have issued formal responses regarding the deleted posts or the deteriorating relationship. Nonetheless, close associates of the tech mogul have hinted that his initial fury may be cooling, and he may still be open to reconciling with the White House, a possibility that now seems unlikely given Trump’s unequivocal statements.
The breakdown in relations between Trump and Musk, two of America’s most influential figures, underscores the rising tension between business and politics in the United States, especially as ideological divisions deepen in the lead-up to the 2026 midterm elections.
