Elon Musk and Donald Trump's feud goes public: Timeline of their tumultuous partnership
President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk's relationship seems to have taken a downward spiral in the past few days. The pair that once grabbed every opportunity to praise each other's work have now resorted to engaging in frequent social media spats due to a difference of opinion over Trump's new 'Big, Beautiful Bill'. The confrontation reached a peak on Thursday (June 5), after Musk's exit from the Department of Government Efficiency (DoGE).
Considering the events of the past year, it may be hard to believe that Musk hasn't always been Trump's biggest fan. During Trump's first run for presidency back in 2016, Musk openly expressed his support for Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton in an interview with CNBC, labeling her environmental and economic policies 'the right ones'. "I feel a bit stronger that he is not the right guy. He doesn't seem to have the sort of character that reflects well on the United States,' Musk said of Trump at the time.
Once Trump beat Clinton in the 2016 race to the White House, Musk retained ties with the federal government due to the close contractual interaction between NASA and his company SpaceX. He was also a part of several White House advisory boards such as Trump's Manufacturing Jobs Council. However, when Trump decided to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accords in 2017, Musk publicly voiced his disapproval of the decision by tweeting, 'Climate change is real. Leaving Paris is not good for America or the world.'
Trump, however, felt differently and publicaly called Musk a 'great guy' during a 2020 SpaceX launch in Florida.
It was in May 2022, that Musk decided to switch his allegiance from blue to red and publically declared his support of the Republican Party, calling the Democrats a 'party of division & hate'.
Even though Musk decided to rally behind the GOP, it didn't automatically ensure his support for Trump as the right man for the job. He instead supported Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a long-time rival of Trump, and even joined a Twitter livestream in May 2023 to support his campaign for the presidency.
Despite a social media feud with Trump in 2022, Musk took the call to reinstate Trump's Twitter account after buying the company in October of that year. His account had previously been suspended from the platform following the US Capitol attack on January 6, 2021. This move came four days after Trump announced his third run for the presidency.
It was after an assassination attempt during his election rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, that Musk first announced public support for Trump's presidency via a social media post.
Trump and Musk came together on an X livestream to share their views on various political topics during which the Tesla CEO expressed a willingness to serve in government by posting a picture of him as a representative of a new department: DoGE.
Musk reportedly became the largest spender in the 2024 presidential election by contributing about a quarter of a billion dollars for several Republicans' campaigns, specifically that of Trump. He was then spotted standing next to the presidential candidate in an October rally back at the Pennsylvania location of Trump's failed assassination attempt while wearing a 'Make America Great Again' cap and calling him the only candidate 'to preserve democracy in America'.
One of Trump's first moves after returning to the White House was to pass an executive order that materialized DoGE into reality. Musk and former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy were now tasked with identifying and cutting down on wasteful spending and frauds in the bureaucracy.
The President also attended a SpaceX 'Starship' launch in Texas during this time to express his support for Musk.
January 2025
Trump gave Musk a special shoutout during his election night victory speech by calling him an 'amazing guy' and saying, 'A star is born.'
As head of the DoGE, Musk took active measures to cut costs but failed to meet his target of saving up to $1 trillion during his time in office which would have helped cut down on the $36 trillion US debt and possibly circulate stimulus checks among the American population. He was soon included in the President's inner circle as a trusted advisor and regularly attended cabinet meetings or traveled aboard Air Force One.
When Trump opponents protested against Musk's company, the President rolled onto the White House's South Lawn in a red Tesla to publically announce support for the car and his friend. He took to social media to applaud Musk for doing a 'FANTASTIC JOB' and said that he would buy a brand new Tesla the very next day.
Due to flaking investor confidence in the Tesla CEO's ability to devote time to the company and the lapse of the 130 days for special government employees like Musk, Trump announced that his confidant would soon be leaving DoGE. 'You're invited to stay as long as you want. At some point, he wants to get back home to his cars,' said Trump during a cabinet meeting.
During a May 29 CBS interview, Musk expressed his disappointment with several provisions in Trump's new public spending bill which he felt would increase the budget deficit and undermine all the work he had been trying to do at DOGE. 'I was, like, disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decrease it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing,' he said. Trump gave the former DoGE head a farewell the next day as he left office by saying, 'Elon's really not leaving. He's going to be back and forth, I think, I have a feeling.'
Once out of office, Musk started voicing his criticism of Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' in harsher terms by labeling it a 'disgusting abomination."
Trump subsequently threatened to cancel Musk's governmental subsidies and contracts.
Musk clapped back by claiming that Trump would not have won the presidency without him.
Musk reshared posts critical of the President on his page including one that demanded Trump's impeachment. During the spar, Trump blamed Musk's social media lash-out on his decision to end tax credits for electric vehicles.
The feud reached a peak on Thursday when Musk dropped a bomb by claiming that Trump is intentionally shielding the full release of the Epstein files due to his involvement in the case.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
14 minutes ago
- Time of India
Taiwan detects Chinese incursions near its territory
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence detected 11 Chinese aircraft and seven Chinese Naval vessels operating around itself as of 6am (local time) on Sunday. As per the MND, out of 11, six sorties entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. In a post on X, the MND said, "11 sorties of PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 6 out of 11 sorties entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and responded accordingly." Earlier on Saturday, the Taiwanese MND detected 34 PLA aircraft, eight PLAN vessels and one official ship operating around itself. In a post on X, it said, "34 PLA aircraft, 8 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 25 out of 34 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern, central and southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded." Live Events Meanwhile, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Thursday criticised Chinese state media for deliberately misrepresenting Taiwan's sovereign status, following reports that former US President Donald Trump reaffirmed the "one China" policy during a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping. China's official Xinhua News Agency reported that Xi urged Trump during the call to handle the Taiwan issue with caution and warned against letting "Taiwanese separatists" provoke confrontation between the US and China. The report claimed Trump expressed support for maintaining the "one China" policy. However, Trump's public statements following the call focused primarily on trade. Writing on social media, he described the conversation as "very positive" and said a new round of lower-level trade talks would be held soon. He made no mention of Taiwan in his statement, instead highlighting progress on issues related to rare earth minerals. In response, MOFA said in a statement published by the Taipei Times that China was using "a recurring tactic" of distorting Taiwan's status to manipulate international perceptions and falsely claim consensus on the "one China" narrative. The ministry emphasised that Taiwan remains committed to preserving peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and would continue working with allies, including the United States, to defend democratic values and regional prosperity.
Hindustan Times
18 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Marines at Camp Pendleton placed on alert as LA riots intensify, says Pete Hegseth
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Saturday that US Marines at Camp Pendleton have been placed on high alert and could be deployed to support National Guard efforts in Los Angeles, as violent protests continue for a second day. Camp Pendleton, located in North San Diego County, is the main West Coast base of the US Marine Corps. In a post on X, Hegseth wrote, 'The violent mob assaults on ICE and Federal Law Enforcement are designed to prevent the removal of Criminal Illegal Aliens from our soil; a dangerous invasion facilitated by criminal cartels (aka Foreign Terrorist Organizations) and a huge NATIONAL SECURITY RISK.' 'Under President Trump, violence & destruction against federal agents & federal facilities will NOT be tolerated. It's COMMON SENSE.' 'The Department of Defense is mobilizing the National Guard IMMEDIATELY to support federal law enforcement in Los Angeles. And, if violence continues, active duty Marines at Camp Pendleton will also be mobilized — they are on high alert,' he added. Protests erupted in Los Angeles on Friday following ICE raids. It escalated on Saturday, with demonstrators clashing with Border Patrol officers. In response, President Donald Trump authorized the deployment of 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles. A White House press release stated: "In recent days, violent mobs have attacked ICE Officers and Federal Law Enforcement Agents carrying out basic deportation operations in Los Angeles, California. 'These operations are essential to halting and reversing the invasion of illegal criminals into the United States. In the wake of this violence, California's feckless Democrat leaders have completely abdicated their responsibility to protect their citizens. That is why President Trump has signed a Presidential Memorandum deploying 2,000 National Guardsmen to address the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester.' California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the move, calling it 'purposefully inflammatory.' 'The federal government is moving to take over the California National Guard and deploy 2,000 soldiers. That move is purposefully inflammatory and will only escalate tensions,' Newsom wrote on X. 'LA authorities are able to access law enforcement assistance at a moment's notice. We are in close coordination with the city and county, and there is currently no unmet need,' he added. 'The Guard has been admirably serving LA throughout recovery. This is the wrong mission and will erode public trust.'
New Indian Express
24 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Trump sends National Guard to Los Angeles amid growing protests against immigration raids
PARAMOUNT: US President Donald Trump is deploying 2,000 California National Guard troops over the governor's objections to Los Angeles where protests Saturday led to clashes between immigration authorities and demonstrators. The White House said in a statement Saturday that Trump was deploying the Guardsmen to 'address the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester' in California. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, objected to the move and said in a post on X that the move from the Republican president was 'purposefully inflammatory and will only escalate tensions.' The White House's move to dramatically ratchet up the response came as protests in Los Angeles extended into a second day where tear gas and smoke filled the air as protesters faced off with Border Patrol personnel in riot gear. In a signal of the administration's aggressive approach, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth threatened in a post on X to deploy the US military. 'If violence continues, active duty Marines at Camp Pendleton will also be mobilized — they are on high alert,' Hegseth said. Trump federaliSed part of the California's National Guard under what is known as Title 10 authority, which places him, not the governor, atop the chain of command, according to Newsom's office. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that the work the immigration authorities were doing when met with protests is "essential to halting and reversing the invasion of illegal criminals into the United States. In the wake of this violence, California's feckless Democrat leaders have completely abdicated their responsibility to protect their citizens.'
