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Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on Elon Musk, accusing the billionaire backer of being “hostile” towards his administration. The public feud between two of the world’s most powerful men escalated as Trump expressed his disappointment in Musk for criticizing his signature tax bill. The US president suggested that Musk’s actions were driven by a desire to protect his business interests.
During a press conference in the Oval Office, Trump remarked, “He’s not the first…people leave my administration and some of them actually become hostile. They leave, and they wake up in the morning, and the glamour’s gone, the whole world is different, and they become hostile.” Trump also mentioned, “I’m very disappointed in Elon. I helped Elon a lot.”
The rift between Trump and Musk has become increasingly public, with Musk openly regretting his support for Trump during the 2020 election. Following Trump’s claims that he would have won the election without Musk’s financial backing, the Tesla CEO took to social media to express his disappointment. This exchange of words resulted in a 6% drop in Tesla’s stock value.
Musk, who previously refrained from directly attacking Trump, criticized the president for abandoning his principles on federal spending. He highlighted Trump’s past criticisms of Republicans for raising the debt ceiling and called out the “disgusting pork” in the tax bill currently under consideration.
The strained relationship between Musk and Trump has had repercussions in Washington, including the withdrawal of billionaire astronaut Jared Isaacman’s nomination to lead Nasa. Isaacman, a close ally of Musk, disputed the White House’s justification for rescinding his nomination, suggesting that some individuals had ulterior motives.
Musk had already distanced himself from the Trump administration, stepping back from his involvement in the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge). Despite claims of identifying significant cuts in federal spending, the savings realized by Doge were modest. Musk and his team have criticized the tax bill for its potential impact on the national debt.
As the feud between Musk and Trump continues to play out in the public eye, the implications for Washington, business, and the world remain uncertain. Stay updated on the latest developments by subscribing to the White House Watch newsletter.
