When bromance turns sour: the hilarious digital feud between Elon Musk and Donald Trump

IOL News

14 hours ago

The budding bromance between US President Donald Trump and SA-born billionaire Elon Musk is over
Image: Graphic/Se-Anne Rall
Breakups can be catastrophic, and when they happen on a global stage, they morph from private heartbreaks into public spectacles.
Add social media into the mix, and it's a full-blown circus. Such is the case with Elon Musk and Donald Trump, whose relationship has unravelled in a way that's equal parts cringeworthy, comedic, and political chaos.
The Trump Elon break up is totally expected news. — Khaya Dlanga (@khayadlanga) June 6, 2025
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Since Musk's exit from his government role at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on May 30, the gloves have come off.
And while most breakups involve a few sharp words, maybe an awkward run-in at the grocery store, this one comes with viral tweets, passive-aggressive barbs, and a nation's economic future hanging in the balance.
In true breakup fashion, even the ex got involved. Ashley St. Clair, Musk's former partner and mom to their 9-month-old son Romulus, couldn't resist throwing shade.
On June 5, she tweeted, 'Hey @realDonaldTrump, lmk if u need any breakup advice.'
Brutal.
The feud has turned into a digital slugfest, with both men dredging up old posts to prove their points.
Image: screenshot/X
Cue the internet to lose its collective mind. One TikTok user dubbed it the "first messy breakup of Pride Month," and another quipped, 'So bad things are happening in America?'
Even St. Clair's subtle shade couldn't overshadow the drama unfolding between Musk and Trump, two men who seem hell-bent on proving that the real fireworks of 2025 will be on Twitter or 'X,' as Musk prefers to call it now.
The gloves are off. Musk, who was once one of Trump's biggest allies and financial backers, didn't hold back. He blasted Trump's new spending bill, calling it a 'deficit-fueling behemoth' and accusing the president of betraying conservative principles.
"Without me, Trump would have lost the election," Musk declared on X, adding, 'Such ingratitude.'
Trump, never one to let a perceived slight slide, fired back on his own platform, Truth Social. He claimed Musk's departure wasn't as amicable as it seemed.
'Elon was wearing thin,' Trump wrote, accusing Musk of 'going crazy' after learning the electric vehicle mandate was being cut.
Elon: I got Trump elected
Trump: I asked Elon to leave and maybe I'll take away his government contracts
Elon: Trump is in the Epstein files pic.twitter.com/n3ZMXIvNg6 — Stephen Sanchez (@SSanchezTV) June 5, 2025
The president of the United States of America even brought Musk's beloved EVs into the mix. "I took away his EV mandate that forced everyone to buy Electric Cars that nobody else wanted," Trump said, painting Musk as a scorned ex who just couldn't let go.
Social media is the new battlefield. The feud has turned into a digital slugfest, with both men dredging up old posts to prove their points.
The feud has turned into a digital slugfest, with both men dredging up old posts to prove their points.
Image: screenshot/tiktok
Musk reposted Trump's 2013 tweet criticising Republicans for raising the debt ceiling, sarcastically commenting, 'Wise words.'
He even questioned whether the current Trump is a 'body double,' wondering what happened to the man who once championed balanced budgets.
Trump, on the other hand, accused Musk of changing his position only after his EV interests were threatened, claiming, "Elon knew this bill inside out and had no problem with it until it hit his bottom line."
hey @realDonaldTrump lmk if u need any breakup advice — Ashley St. Clair (@stclairashley) June 5, 2025
If their exchanges seem petty, that's because they are. But the stakes are anything but small. Behind the snarky tweets and veiled insults lies a growing divide over America's economic strategy, with Musk railing against what he sees as reckless spending and Trump doubling down on his legislative agenda.
Dirty laundry and public spectacles; the public has been eating it up. From TikTok to Twitter, the internet is awash with commentary on the feud.
Breakups can be catastrophic and when they happen on a global stage, they morph from private heartbreaks into public spectacles.
Image: Screenshot/TikTok
'They're airing out their dirty laundry like it's a reality show,' one user joked. But in reality, this isn't just tabloid fodder, it's a messy clash of egos with real political consequences.
For now, the fallout continues to unfold in real-time. Musk has made it clear he's not backing down, calling Trump's policies 'a disgusting abomination.' Meanwhile, Trump has hinted that Musk's attacks are only going to escalate, saying, 'I don't know if we will [have a great relationship] anymore.'
Elon Musk and Donald Trump, whose relationship has unravelled in a way that's equal parts cringe, comedy, and political chaos.
Image: screenshot/Tiktok