Trump's Tiff with Musk: The Souring Relationship
Trump appears to be growing impatient with Musk.
It's clear as day that the bromance between Elon Musk and Donald Trump has gone sour. After months of camaraderie, Musk has taken a u-turn, criticizing Trump's spending bill, and the President ain't happy about it.
According to the "Wall Street Journal", Trump's not exactly thrilled with Musk's crusade against the so-called "Big Beautiful Bill". The White House's high-ranking officials confirmed this, sharing their insights with the newspaper.
The Billionaire's Betrayal
It seems Trump is scratching his head, wondering why Musk, his former collaborator for four months, has suddenly turned against him. Even Trump's closest advisors are reportedly perplexed by Musk's harsh words. Musk led the Department of State Efficiency (Doge) after Trump took office, which led to considerable cuts in various agencies in the US.
NASA Dreams Dashed
Matters seem to have worsened due to the scrapping of Jared Isaacman's nomination for the top post at NASA. Musk had championed for Isaacman's appointment, as Isaacman has ties to Musk's space company, SpaceX. The relationship between the two men appears strained, and this latest development may have added fuel to the fire.
Musk expressed his disappointment over Isaacman's nomination being withdrawn, stating on X, "It's rare to find someone so competent and kind-hearted." According to the "Wall Street Journal", Musk was reportedly irate over the weekend, allegedly complaining to associates that he had poured hundreds of millions of dollars into Trump's campaign, only to see Isaacman's nomination withdrawn.
A Taxing Situation
This week, Musk has been vocal about his disdain for Trump's tax bill, calling it a "disgusting abomination". He warned members of congress that those voting for it would face the wrath of the voters in the upcoming midterm elections in 2026. Musk believes that Trump's plan would increase the budget deficit and National Debt.
On Wednesday, Musk ramped up his efforts, urging his 200 million followers on X to contact senators and representatives, imploring them to "KILL THE BILL". Trump, in response, shared a picture of Musk's farewell message from the previous week on Truth Social, without offering any comment.
Trump's tax proposal includes long-term tax cuts from 2017, Medicaid funding reductions, cuts to food assistance for the poor, and a push for the Senate to pass the bill by Independence Day, July 4. The 1116-page bill has already been passed in the House of Representatives.
Unforgiving Trump
In response to a query about whether Trump and Musk still share a strong bond, a White House staffer told the "Wall Street Journal" that it's premature to tell. Trump might forgive, but he certainly doesn't forget insults like these.
Even before Musk's escalated attacks on the tax bill, Trump's allies were reportedly worried that a post-White House Musk would be emboldened to criticize without restraint. Some government officials urged lawmakers on Capitol Hill to flood social media with praise for Musk, hoping this would appease him.
Sources: ntv.de, gho
- Donald Trump
- Elon Musk
- USA
- Nasa
- The Commission has also been consulted on the draft tax directive, given Musk's vocal opposition to Trump's tax bill in the realm of finance and general news.
- Business and technology have played a significant role in the strained relationship between Elon Musk and Donald Trump, with Musk's unexpected criticism of the spending bill and the subsequent withdrawal of Jared Isaacman's nomination for the top post at NASA.
- The ongoing political disagreement between Trump and Musk has extended to the realm of policymaking, with Musk urging his followers to intervene in the senate's decision on the tax bill, citing concerns about increasing the budget deficit and national debt.
