Trending tickers: The latest investor updates on Tesla, Applied Digital, Wise, Wizz Air and Dr Martens
Sales of Tesla (TSLA) vehicles in the UK fell by more than third in May, according to data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) on Thursday.
SMMT said that registrations of Tesla vehicles fell by 36% year-on-year in May to 2,016 cars. That's despite an increase in sales of battery electric vehicles (BEV) overall last month, with registrations up nearly 26% year-on-year to 32,738 units.
This follows data released at the start of the week, which showed that Tesla new car sales fell in Spain and Portugal in May, compared to the same month last year.
Read more: FTSE 100 LIVE: Stocks rise as traders await ECB interest rate decision
Meanwhile, figures published by the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) last week showed that sales of Tesla vehicles dropped across Europe by 49% to 7,261 units in April.
Sales have fallen as CEO Elon Musk faced backlash for his role heading up US president Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), though the billionaire confirmed he was leaving his role advising the Trump administration last week.
Following his exit from Washington DC, Musk has ramped up his criticism of Trump's tax bill this week. "Call your Senator, Call your Congressman, Bankrupting America is NOT ok! KILL the BILL," Musk posted on X on Wednesday.
Shares in Tesla were down 2% in pre-market trading on Thursday and are down nearly 7% over the past five days.
Shares in Applied Digital (APLD) continued to rally in Wednesday's session, closing 29% higher and were up 4.5% in pre-market trading on Thursday.
The jump in Applied Digital (APLD) shares come after the company announced a $7bn ($5.2bn) deal with CoreWeave (CRWV), the cloud services provider backed by Nvidia (NVDA).
Read more: Oil prices rise despite oversupply concerns
Applied Digital, which designs and operates digital infrastructure, announced on Monday that it had entered into two approximately 15-year lease agreements with CoreWeave.
Under the agreement, Applied Digital will deliver 250 megawatts of critical IT load to host CoreWeave's AI and high-performing computing (HPC) infrastructure at its Ellendale, North Dakota data center campus.
Applied Digital said it anticipating generating approximately $7bn in total revenue from the leases.
Fintech firm Wise (WISE.L) announced on Thursday that it planned to switch its primary listing from the UK to the US, in another blow to the London market.
Wise CEO Kristo Käärmann said that the company now planned to dual list its shares in the US and UK.
"We believe the addition of a primary US listing would help us accelerate our mission and bring substantial strategic and capital market benefits to Wise and our Owners," he said.
Read more: Stocks that are trending today
Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell (AJB.L), said: "The UK stock market is like a boxer determined to keep going in a gruelling fight. While the FTSE 100's (^FTSE) share price performance might have beaten the main US indices this year, the broader UK stock market continues to take a succession of blows to the head from a reputational perspective."
"Although subject to a shareholder vote, it seems unlikely Wise will receive widespread opposition if it means the shares could be worth more in the future," he said.
In addition, metals investor Cobalt Holdings said on Wednesday that it would not go ahead with its planned initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange.
Shares in FTSE 250-listed (^FTMC) airline Wizz Air dived 27% on Thursday morning, following the release of its final full-year results.
Wizz Air posted a nearly 62% drop in operating profit for the 2025 fiscal year, at €167.5m (£140.96m), while net profit was down 41.5% to €213.9m. The airline said its 2025 results had been impacted by groundings of its planes related to engine issues.
In addition, Wizz Air said it was not giving guidance for the 2026 fiscal year "given the lack of visibility across our trading seasons".
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Garry White, chief investment commentator at Charles Stanley, said: "The company is facing rising costs after grounding a significant proportion of its aircraft due to problems with Pratt & Witney engines.
"The tone of the statement, however, was upbeat. Despite its many challenges, the airline remains profitable — and the number of grounded aircraft will start reducing in both absolute and relative terms in the current financial year."
"Two of the airline's key markets — Ukraine and Israel — are in crisis, so its operations will continue to be negatively impacted by the situations there," he added. "It could be some time before services in these markets return to normal.
"Nevertheless, the current financial year looks set to see an improvement, as the grounding issue is slowly resolved."
Shares in Dr Martens (DOCS.L) were up 18% on Thursday morning, after the iconic boot brand revealed an update to its business strategy, as recently appointed CEO Ije Nwokorie looks to turn around the business.
In its final full-year 2025 results, released on Thursday, Dr Martens posted group revenue of £787.6m ($1.07bn), which was down 10% year-on-year on a reported basis but was in line with expectations. Reported profit before tax of £8.8m was down from £93m in 2024.
However, Nwokorie said the company's new "Levers for Growth" strategy would increase "opportunities by shifting the business from a channel-first to a consumer-first mindset".
Read more: UK 'bargain' stocks that have outperformed the market long-term
"We will give more people more reasons to buy more of our products, whether that's our iconic boots and shoes, newer product families such as Zebzag and Buzz, or adjacent categories such as sandals, bags and leather goods," he said. "And we will tailor distribution to each market, blending DTC (direct-to-consumer) and B2B (business-to-business), optimising brand reach and ensuring a better use of capital."
On the back of this strategy, the company said that over the medium-term, it expected to deliver "sustainable, profitable revenue growth above the rate of the relevant footwear market, with operating leverage driving a mid to high-teens EBIT (earnings before interest and tax) margin."
AJ Bell's Mould said: "Dr Martens is on the front foot with a strategy that seeks to kick out the troubles of old and return the business to profitable growth. This should shift the market's focus from earlier problems in the US and a sharp drop in earnings to a business intent on regaining its power."
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Wall Street Journal
28 minutes ago
- Wall Street Journal
How the Cybertruck Came to Embody Tesla's Problems
The bromance between Elon Musk and President Trump is ending at a difficult time for Tesla TSLA 3.67%increase; green up pointing triangle. The electric-vehicle maker lost roughly $150 billion of market value Thursday—its biggest ever drop—after the Tesla CEO and Trump traded insults. Sales of Teslas have slumped this year. Tariffs could disrupt the supply of key components. The sprawling Republican tax-and-spending bill would end tax credits for EV buyers. And Tesla's Cybertruck has been a disappointment. Musk set high expectations for the Cybertruck, telling investors it would be Tesla's 'best product ever.' The angular, stainless steel pickup was supposed to generate buzz for Tesla by showcasing new technology and unlocking the lucrative truck market. Instead, it has become synonymous with Musk's polarizing stint in politics, exposing some owners to graffiti or middle fingers from other drivers. And its reputation has been tarnished among Tesla fans because of a spate of recalls and manufacturing issues that have resulted in cycles of repairs. In the U.S., the company sold fewer than 40,000 Cybertrucks in 2024—well below Musk's ultimate goal of 250,000 a year. In the first quarter of 2025, Tesla sold around 7,100 Cybertrucks in the U.S., according to registration data from S&P Global Mobility. Ford's F-150 Lightning pickup outsold it. In an effort to boost sales, Tesla has rolled out lower-price versions of the truck and started offering buyers incentives such as 0% financing and free upgrades. Almost as soon as the $100,000 Cybertruck hit the road, quality problems began to multiply. Reports on social media cited cracked windshields and spotting from so-called rail dust, orange discoloration similar to rust. In its first year, Tesla recalled the truck seven times to fix dangerous defects. In March, with large metal panels falling off the trucks, the tally rose to eight. Some of the quality problems were known and documented internally before the truck went on sale, including issues with the accelerator pad and windshield wiper that later triggered recalls, said former employees who worked on the Cybertruck. But there was pressure inside Tesla to get the truck to market quickly, according to these employees. Tesla didn't respond to requests for comment. 'Elon Musk will tell you the biggest professional mistake was the falcon doors on the Model X,' said David Fick, a longtime Tesla owner who got his Cybertruck in March. He referred to the complex door design that opens upward and hinges at the roof. 'I believe that the Cybertruck is going to go down as an even bigger corporate stumble.' The retired banker in Boynton Beach, Fla., chose to wait more than a year to buy his Cybertruck, hopeful that many of the biggest issues would be identified before he drove his off the lot. 'They do a lot of bleeding-edge stuff where they rush to the market and then you're a beta tester as an owner,' Fick said. He paid about $72,000 for the car, plus $7,300 for window tinting and a custom wrap for exterior trim panels known as cant rails, covering his new car in a metallic maroon color. Soon after, Tesla recalled cant rails because they could become unglued. 'I've had tons of recalls on my Teslas over the years,' said Fick, who added that the cars are worth the hassle. 'Eighty percent were fixed by [software] updates, but these are physical things we are dealing with now.' Musk unveiled the prototype for the Cybertruck in 2019. At the time, he said it would cost $39,900, with a battery range of up to 500 miles—an ambitious combination that would be a stretch for any EV maker. Work on the vehicle was delayed a couple of years, leaving engineering and manufacturing teams with only a few months to do final testing before the trucks went to customers, former employees said. Musk tried to temper expectations around how quickly Tesla could increase production, given its unique design. 'There is always some chance that Cybertruck will flop, because it is so unlike anything else,' he wrote on social media in July 2021. Still, he promoted some of its most unusual features, including his dream of making the car amphibious. Former employees said they took Musk's social posts as orders, but the engineering proved difficult. By 2022, it was clear internally that Cybertruck wouldn't be able to meet all Musk's criteria, so engineers scrapped an early design and started over—developing a smaller, landlocked version of the truck, the people said. After about a year and a half of testing, Tesla delivered the first Cybertrucks to a dozen or so customers in late November 2023. An early version of the truck started at $100,000 and had an estimated range of 318 miles. Two months later, Tesla issued its first recall on the vehicle: a software update that required the company to increase the size of the font on a warning system used across its fleet. It was the first of three recalls that Tesla addressed on the Cybertruck through over-the-air updates to its software. Cybertruck's problems couldn't be fixed by software updates alone. In April 2024, Tesla issued a recall for the accelerator pedal. The company had received a notice from a customer complaining that the accelerator had gotten stuck. Tesla found that the pad attached to the long pedal could dislodge and get stuck in the trim above the pedal, causing the car to accelerate. An internal investigation found the issue was the result of an 'unapproved change,' in which Tesla employees used soap as a lubricant to attach the pad, according to the recall notice. Inside Tesla, the accelerator pad had been a known issue starting with the prototype, according to an employee who worked on the part. The manufacturing team also identified the part as problematic, this person said. Tesla also had problems with the Cybertruck's expansive windshield, which measured nearly 6 square feet. Sometimes the heavy glass would break, two employees said. The glass either arrived cracked from the supplier in Mexico or from handling at the Austin, Texas, facility, they said. Some owners took to social media to describe the glass cracking as soon as they drove off the lot, or while they wiped the inside of their windshield. The windshield required a large windshield wiper measuring 50 inches long. In June 2024, Tesla issued a recall on the wipers, whose motors Tesla found had been overstressed by testing. The wiper had been flagged nearly a year before, two people who worked on the Cybertruck said. It was one of the first issues identified on the vehicles, at which point it was classified as a 'gating issue,' which meant that it needed to be resolved before production could move forward. Reid Tomasko, a 25-year-old YouTube creator, took his Cybertruck on a cross-country trip, during which it performed perfectly, he said. Then came winter in New Hampshire. He was driving near his home in Lebanon, N.H., in February when a metal panel flew off the side of his truck. In March, Tesla issued a recall affecting most of the Cybertrucks it had produced—more than 46,000. The problem involved adhesive that could become brittle in extreme weather, causing exterior trim panels called cant rails to dislodge. Inspecting his truck, Tomasko said he found loose connections on almost every panel that used the adhesive, including the large pieces of stainless steel over the rear wheels, the front fender and the front doors. 'I was wondering, why are they not recalling the other panels?' Tomasko said. After replacing several panels, Tesla offered to buy back Tomasko's truck for nearly all of the $102,000 that he paid, he said. He accepted. 'I am planning on getting a newer one for cheaper soon,' he said. Write to Becky Peterson at
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump-Musk feud: Ted Cruz says pair should 'kiss and make up'
The Brief Sen. Ted Cruz says the country does better when President Trump and Elon Musk are working together. Cruz said he was in the Oval Office when the relationship imploded. Musk and Trump traded several pointed barbs at each other on X. Sen. Ted Cruz on Thursday called President Donald Trump and Elon Musk strong-willed and brilliant, saying the two need to make up because the country does better when they work side-by-side. Cruz said on his podcast, "Verdict with Ted Cruz," that he was inside the Oval Office when Musk started his posts on X and the relationship between the billionaire CEO and Trump imploded. What they're saying "These are two alpha males who are pissed off and, unfortunately, they're unloading on each other," Cruz said. "And I wish that were not the case, because I think the country does better when these two amazing heroes are working side-by-side for the country." Cruz went on to say Trump and Musk should "kiss and make up." "I will say, every enemy of America, every Marxist, every person who hates our country, every person who hates freedom, is cheering for this divide to be real, to be deep, to be lasting, to be permanent," Cruz said. "Everyone who loves our country is cheering for Elon and President Trump to kiss and make up." Cruz said Trump was angry while they were in the Oval Office on Thursday. "Elon was saying some really harsh things," Cruz said. "It just went from zero to eleven instantaneously." He went on to say he hopes it goes back to zero just as quickly. "I feel like the kids of a bitter divorce where you're just saying, I really wish mommy and daddy would stop screaming," Cruz said. "I think a lot of conservatives are feeling like this is not good, let's hug and make up." Cruz called both men correct on the crux of the argument, the "big, beautiful bill." "President Trump is right, we have to get this one big, beautiful bill passed. We're going to," Cruz said. "Elon is right that we have to make the bill better. We have to cut more spending and tackle the deficit and debt more than we do. They're both right." Cruz called both men good friends, saying Trump was an "extraordinary president" that would "save this country from absolute destruction" and calling Musk one of the greatest business men, innovators and thinkers "the world has ever seen." Cruz touted Musk's work with Tesla, SpaceX and with the federal government while with DOGE. Dig deeper The rift between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk played out publicly on social media as the two hurled criticisms at the other. "I'm sorry, but I just can't stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it." — Musk, posted on X Tuesday. He then escalated his criticism of Trump's "big, beautiful" budget bill, with the billionaire calling on Republican lawmakers to vote down the bill and threatened political retribution against those who took Trump's side. "In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people," Musk posted on X. RELATED: Musk says 'Trump is in the Epstein files' as public feud escalates Trump said Musk had worn out his welcome at the White House and was mad that Trump was changing electric vehicle policies in ways that would financially harm Musk-led Tesla. "Elon was 'wearing thin,' I asked him to leave, I took away his EV Mandate that forced everyone to buy Electric Cars that nobody else wanted (that he knew for months I was going to do!), and he just went CRAZY!" Trump wrote. Trump added: "The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon's Governmental Subsidies and Contracts. I was always surprised that Biden didn't do it!" "Time to drop the really big bomb: Trump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!" — Musk, Thursday, X post. In a series of posts, Musk put the spotlight on ties between Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, the financier who killed himself while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. The backstory A rift began between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk as Trump pursued tariffs that could raise costs for Musk's businesses. The Associated Press reported that Musk said Peter Navarro, the president's trade adviser, was "truly a moron" and "dumber than a sack of bricks" on April 8. Musk, who had never before worked in public service, apparently started to sour on government. The billionaire suggested there wasn't enough political will, either in Congress or in the White House, to lower spending. Trump began hinting that it was time for Musk to leave even though Musk said he would be willing to stay. Shortly before announcing he was leaving the White House, Musk said he was "disappointed" by legislation that Trump called the "big beautiful bill" because it would increase the deficit. The proposed legislation would increase the deficit while eliminating tax incentives that have helped his electric automaker Tesla. Trump responded by threatening to cut government subsidies and contracts for Musk's companies, and things only escalated. "I think a bill can be big or it could be beautiful," Musk said. "But I don't know if it could be both." Musk escalated his attacks on the bill Tuesday, calling it a "disgusting abomination," and Trump tried to fend off the criticism. "He hasn't said bad about me personally, but I'm sure that will be next," the president said Thursday in the Oval Office during a meeting with the German chancellor. Musk hopped on X to express his anger at Trump, saying his tariffs "will cause a recession in the second half of this year" and accusing him of lying. He also said it was "very unfair" that the legislation would eliminate tax incentives for electric vehicles. The Associated Press noted that Trump responded as he tried to maintain momentum for his legislation. "I don't mind Elon turning against me, but he should have done so months ago," the president posted. "This is one of the Greatest Bills ever presented to Congress." The Source Sen. Ted Cruz's comments come from an episode of his podcast, Verdict with Ted Cruz. Information on the Donald Trump-Elon Musk feud comes from the Associated Press and previous FOX reporting.
Hamilton Spectator
33 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Elon Musk and Donald Trump feud: A breakdown of how they went from bromance to breakup
It has been exactly one week since Elon Musk last stood in the Oval Office. Clad in a shirt that read 'The Dogefather,' Musk gratefully accepted a golden key to the White House from Donald Trump — a parting gift the president said he gave only to 'very special people.' The tech mogul was stepping away from his role at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), officially ending his 130-day tenure at the Trump administration. 'Elon's service to America has been without comparison in modern history,' Trump said at the time. Musk, sporting a black eye he said came from one of his 14 children, returned the praises: 'The Oval Office finally has the majesty that it deserves, thanks to the president.' Days later, both men would tear into the other across social media and live TV. In a salvo of posts on his social media outlet X, Musk claimed Trump is 'in the Epstein files' and that he only won the 2024 presidency through Musk's influence. 'Such ingratitude,' he wrote. Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT! Trump responded by threatening to tear up Musk's government contracts, leading to a 14 per cent plunge in Tesla's stock price by market close Thursday. The feud appeared to have been sparked over disagreements on what Trump has deemed his 'Big Beautiful Bill.' But cracks have been present throughout their decade-long relationship. Musk wasn't always buddy-buddy with Trump. The tech titan backed former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in her race against Trump in 2016, and was vocal in his criticisms of the president. Days before the 2016 election, Musk told CNBC : 'He's not the right guy. He doesn't seem to have the sort of character that reflects well on the United States.' Regardless, Trump would appoint Musk to his Strategic and Policy Forum alongside other Silicon Valley CEOs a month later. The bitter feud between the U.S. president and tech billionaire has spilled into another day. The bitter feud between the U.S. president and tech billionaire has spilled into another day. The appointment wouldn't stick; Musk departed from his roles within the administration in 2017, after Trump withdrew from the Paris Climate Accords: 'Climate change is real. Leaving Paris is not good for America or the world,' Musk wrote . Three years later, Musk would vote for Joe Biden over Trump in the 2020 elections, he said. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, U.S. musician Kid Rock and Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk pose for a photo as they attend UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden in New York, on Nov. 16, 2024. Musk first signalled his shift to the right in May 2022, after what he said were years of voting Democrat. '(The Democrats) have become the party of division & hate, so I can no longer support them and will vote Republican,' he tweeted . 'Now, watch their dirty tricks campaign against me unfold.' Then, in November — days after purchasing Twitter for $44 billion (U.S.) — Musk used his platform to encourage 'independent-minded voters' to vote for 'a Republican Congress, given that the Presidency is Democratic.' Musk, who had donated to both Democrats and Republicans until that point, began to shift his funding toward right and far-right leaning candidates that year. But his feud with Trump continued, with him suggesting Trump should 'hang up his hat & sail into the sunset' in July of 2022. At a campaign rally, Trump shot back that Musk's companies would be 'worthless' without federal funding. After some debate, Musk decided to support Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the 2024 presidential primaries over Trump; DeSantis even announced his campaign over a glitch-riddled Twitter livecast . But after the governor failed to gain traction among voters, Musk turned his eye to more promising prospects. The legacy of Musk's slash and burn to government lives on. The legacy of Musk's slash and burn to government lives on. Musk and Trump's whirlwind bromance began minutes after a bullet from a would-be assassin grazed the presidential candidate's right ear at a campaign rally in Butler, Penn., on July 13, 2024. 'I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery,' Musk wrote shortly after the incident was reported. The tech titan wasted no time throwing his full support behind Trump and joining him on the campaign trail. The following weeks saw Musk spend a total $288 million to help elect Trump and other Republican candidates, according to the Washington Post . The billionaire also announced he would give away $1 million each day to swing state voters who signed a petition from his political action committee (PAC). U.S. President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk speak to the press as they stand next to a Tesla vehicle on the South Portico of the White House on March 11. After his election victory in November, Trump announced that DOGE — an initiative purportedly meant to maximize efficiency and cut wasteful spending — would be led by Musk and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. The White House confirmed Ramaswamy would step away from the project soon after Trump's second inauguration, leaving Musk as its sole head — although the White House was never clear on Musk's exact role at DOGE. He dreamed of cutting $1 trillion in government spending. Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk with his son X Æ A-Xii join U.S. President Donald Trump as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House on Feb. 11. The following weeks saw Musk and his team gut federal agencies and slash government staff. DOGE would dismantle USAID , tear up billions of dollars worth of research funds for cancer and other illnesses and lead to the departures of tens of thousands of government staff . All the while, Musk would garner vast influence within the Trump administration, from flying on Air Force One and participating in Cabinet meetings to showing up at the Oval Office with his young son. 'I love @realDonaldTrump as much as a straight man can love another man,' Musk wrote on X in February. Musk's close association with Trump and his activities at DOGE resulted in public backlash against the billionaire and his companies. Global protests against Tesla led to attacks on dealerships and a plunge in its stock price. Trump soon came to the defence of Musk's company, parading several Teslas at a White House press conference and telling reporters he even bought one of Musk's cars in March — although experts predicted the public support would backfire . Musk's time in the Trump administration wasn't all smooth sailing. In April, Musk got into a public spat over automotive tariffs with Trump's top trade adviser Peter Navarro, calling him a 'moron' and 'dumber than a sack of bricks.' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stayed out of the feud: 'Boys will be boys, and we will let their public sparring continue,' she said. Later that month, Trump suggested at a cabinet meeting that Musk's time in his administration may be coming to an end . 'At some point, he wants to get back home to his cars,' he said, after praising Musk for his work. The Ontario government won't revive its $100-million contract with Starlink that was cancelled in March in retaliation for Trump's tariffs. The Ontario government won't revive its $100-million contract with Starlink that was cancelled in March in retaliation for Trump's tariffs. That point came just a month later, on May 30, after reaching the maximum amount of days he could serve as a government employee. In that time, DOGE claims to have tallied $180 billion (U.S.) in savings — well short of its $1 trillion goal. Days earlier, Musk told CBS he was 'disappointed' by the price of Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill,' continuing that the legislation would further inflate the U.S. deficit. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill would add $3.8 trillion to the deficit by 2034. 'I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful, but I don't know if it can be both,' Musk said at the time. The disagreement would soon blossom into an all-out brawl between Musk and Trump. Within 100 hours of his departure from DOGE, Musk fired his first volley at Trump's spending bill (without naming the president directly). 'This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination,' he wrote on X Tuesday. 'Shame on those who voted for it.' Trump shot back Thursday, telling reporters that Musk 'knew every aspect of this bill — better than almost anybody — and he never had a problem until right after he left.' 'False,' Musk retorted mere minutes later . 'This bill was never shown to me even once and was passed in the dead of night so fast that almost no one in Congress could even read it!' President Donald Trump, right, presents a 'key to the White House' to Elon Musk during a news conference in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on May 30, 2025. The tech titan then broadened his attack. 'Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate,' he wrote . 'Such ingratitude.' Trump then took to his own social media platform, Truth Social, writing: 'Elon was 'wearing thin,' I asked him to leave, I took away his EV Mandate that forced everyone to buy Electric Cars that nobody else wanted (that he knew for months I was going to do!), and he just went CRAZY!' 'The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon's Governmental Subsidies and Contracts,' Trump said in a followup post. 'I was always surprised that Biden didn't do it!' In response, Musk threatened to 'immediately' decommission SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft — used to ferry NASA astronauts and supplies to the International Space Station — 'In light of the President's statement about cancellation of my government contracts.' He would later pull back on the threat. Musk also made another accusation. 'Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public,' he said. 'Have a nice day, DJT!' For his part, Trump defended his spending bill, writing on Truth Social: 'It's a Record Cut in Expenses, $1.6 Trillion Dollars, and the Biggest Tax Cut ever given. If this Bill doesn't pass, there will be a 68% Tax Increase, and things far worse than that. I didn't create this mess, I'm just here to FIX IT.' But on Friday morning, Trump signalled he was no longer interested in speaking about his former ally: 'I'm not even thinking about Elon. He's got a problem, the poor guy's got a problem,' he told CNN.
