Former President Donald Trump has launched a blistering attack on Elon Musk, accusing the tech mogul of disloyalty and suggesting he “owes everything” to Trump’s pro-business policies. The verbal assault marks a dramatic rupture between two high-profile figures who once shared mutual admiration and political goals.
At a campaign event in Ohio this weekend, Trump went off-script to denounce Musk’s rumored political pivot. “I gave that guy every advantage you could imagine. No one did more for Elon than I did,” Trump said to roaring applause. “And now he’s flirting with the radical left? It’s disgraceful. It’s sad.”
The relationship, once characterized by mutual strategic benefit, has soured rapidly amid speculation that Musk is considering bankrolling centrist or even Democratic candidates in the 2025 midterm elections. Trump, known for demanding loyalty, appears infuriated by the possibility that Musk could abandon the GOP’s right-wing base in favor of more moderate platforms.
This latest feud escalated after Musk sharply criticized Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a sweeping tax-and-spending package that would expand subsidies for fossil fuels while gutting climate research. Musk, in a public statement, called the bill “anti-science and anti-innovation,” directly clashing with Trump’s populist messaging.
The political implications are vast. Musk, whose companies rely on billions in federal contracts and subsidies, is not only a financial powerhouse but also a cultural icon with a broad digital following. A swing toward Democratic or independent causes could weaken Trump’s grip on tech-minded libertarians and wealthy suburban conservatives.
Trump appears to be signaling retribution. “We’re taking a very close look at who benefits from our government and who bites the hand that feeds them,” he warned ominously during the rally. Insiders say Trump’s team is preparing a formal review of Musk-linked federal partnerships, from Starlink contracts to Tesla’s electric vehicle credits.
Musk has yet to respond directly but did post a series of tweets hinting at disillusionment with partisan politics. One message simply read, “When the system punishes the independent, it’s time to build a new system.”
The rift could also signal deeper fractures within the Republican coalition. Musk’s potential departure from the MAGA sphere may embolden other wealthy donors to challenge the party’s current trajectory, reshaping GOP fundraising dynamics just months before key elections.
While some Republicans have urged caution, others are taking Trump’s side. “Elon’s a genius, sure,” said Sen. Rick Scott. “But if you walk away from the values that got you here, don’t expect a free ride.”
With Musk signaling openness to forming a new political entity or working across party lines, this could be the start of an ideological shift with massive consequences. Whether it results in a realignment or merely another Trump-centric feud remains to be seen—but the stakes are undeniably high.
