
From allies to adversaries: Inside the Trump-Musk public breakdown
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What began as a seemingly powerful alliance between Donald Trump and Elon Musk , the president of the US, and the world's richest man, has quickly soured over disagreements on Trump's proposed tax and spending bill.Speaking to CBS News, Musk criticises Trump's planned legislation, calling it 'disappointing.' Trump, when asked by reporters, admits he is 'not happy about certain aspects' of the bill, though 'thrilled' about the tax cuts. He doesn't address Musk's comments.Musk announces his departure from the Trump administration after completing his term as a special government employee. He had led the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a cost-cutting initiative.On Musk's last day, he appears at a White House press conference sporting a black eye. Trump praises him, saying Musk is 'not really leaving' and will continue to be 'back and forth' at the White House.Trump defends his 'big, beautiful bill' on Truth Social, alleging 'many false statements' are being spread about it.Musk escalates his criticism, calling the bill 'massive, outrageous, pork-filled,' and 'a disgusting abomination' on X.Musk urges his followers to oppose the bill and demand a version that doesn't 'massively grow the deficit and increase the debt ceiling'.Musk quotes Trump's old posts from 2012-13, where he criticised government spending. Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump says he and Musk 'had' a great relationship but adds, 'I don't know if we will anymore.' He later tells reporters he is 'very disappointed in Elon' and claims Musk was aware of every aspect of the bill.Musk fires back on X: 'False. 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!'Trump then posts on Truth Social that Musk had been 'wearing thin' and claims he asked him to leave, alleging Musk 'went CRAZY'. Musk calls this 'an obvious lie.'Trump follows up by threatening to cut off Musk's government subsidies and contracts: 'The easiest way to save money in our Budget is to terminate Elon's Governmental Subsidies and Contracts.'In an ABC News interview, Trump calls Musk 'the man who has lost his mind' and says he's 'not particularly' interested in speaking to him.Trump confirms to NBC News that his relationship with Musk is over. Asked if he wanted to mend ties, he replied, 'No. I have no intention of speaking to him.'Trump says he has no plans to remove Starlink from the White House but might relocate his Tesla.Musk expresses regret about some of his recent posts about Trump.According to Michael Wolff on The Daily Beast Podcast , Trump has been talking about Musk with friends and claimed he was behind a New York Times story alleging Musk used drugs like Ketamine and Adderall. Musk denied the report.Wolff, citing people close to Trump, said the president has been repeatedly asking, 'Do you think Elon is crazy?' and claimed, 'We dropped a dime to The New York Times on Elon's drug taking.'
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Time of India
16 minutes ago
- Time of India
Elon Musk wants to shut down the International Space Station for which Donald Trump just sanctioned $1.25 billion; says time to focus on ...
The world's richest man and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has triggered a debate by urging the retirement of the International Space Station (ISS), calling it a relic that's holding back humanity's cosmic ambitions. On July 3, Elon Musk took to Twitter to repost a summary of space-related funding in President Donald Trump's latest tax bill, which allocates $1.25 billion to sustain the ISS through 2030. Musk's blunt response: 'It's time to retire the Space Station and focus on Mars'. Musk's post sparked a heated online debate, with supporters cheering his bold vision and critics defending the ISS as a cornerstone of global scientific collaboration. The ISS, said to be a marvel of engineering orbiting 250 miles above Earth, has been a hub for groundbreaking research since its first module launched in 1998. But at over two decades old, the station is showing its age. NASA has acknowledged that critical systems, including life support and structural components, are nearing the end of their operational life. The tax bill also includes $325 million to fund a safe deorbit process by 2030, signaling that the station's days are numbered. Last year, NASA awarded SpaceX an $843 million contract to build a U.S. Deorbit Vehicle to guide the ISS to a controlled reentry, ensuring it burns up safely over a remote part of the Pacific Ocean. Why Elon Musk wants ISS deorbited Elon Musk argues that the ISS's mounting maintenance costs -- estimated at $3-4 billion annually -- are a drain on resources that could be better spent on humanity's next frontier: Mars. 'The ISS was a great achievement, but it's a 20th-century project,' Musk said in a follow-up post on Twitter. 'If we want to become a multi-planetary species, we need to stop tinkering with old hardware and go all-in on Mars.' His vision for a self-sustaining Martian colony has been a cornerstone of SpaceX's mission since its founding in 2002, with the company's Starship rocket designed to carry crews and cargo to the Red Planet. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Providers are furious: Internet access without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo What supporters of International Space Station say Critics, however, argue that Musk's push to abandon the ISS overlooks its ongoing contributions. The station hosts experiments in microgravity that have advanced medical research, materials science, and our understanding of long-term space habitation -- knowledge critical for Mars missions. 'The ISS isn't just a lab; it's a symbol of what nations can achieve together,' said Dr. Ellen Stofan, former NASA chief scientist, in a statement to Reuters. 'Dismissing it prematurely risks losing that momentum.' The ISS is a joint effort of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada, and its cooperative framework has weathered geopolitical tensions, including recent strains with Russia over Ukraine. Elon Musk's 'time to retire ISS' divides the internet Public reaction on Twitter too reflect the divide. 'Musk is right—ISS is a money pit. Mars is the future,' posted user @SpacePioneer2030, echoing sentiments from those who see the station as outdated. Others, like @AstroGeek42, countered: 'The ISS still delivers science you can't get anywhere else. Why ditch it before we're ready?' The debate underscores a broader tension in space policy: balancing immediate scientific gains with long-term exploration goals. NASA's current plan keeps the ISS operational until 2030, with private space stations like Axiom Space's proposed orbital habitat expected to fill the gap. But Musk's comments suggest he'd rather see that transition happen sooner. SpaceX, which already ferries astronauts and supplies to the ISS, is positioned to play a key role in both the station's end and the next chapter of space exploration. The company's reusable rockets have slashed launch costs, making ambitious projects like Mars missions more feasible. The tax bill's funding for the ISS and its deorbit underscores a pragmatic reality: the station's end is inevitable. Yet Musk's call to shift focus to Mars raises questions about priorities in an era of constrained budgets and competing global challenges. As one senior NASA official, speaking anonymously, told The Washington Post, 'Elon's not wrong that Mars is the big goal, but the ISS is still teaching us how to get there. It's not an either-or situation—yet."
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First Post
32 minutes ago
- First Post
Israel to send delegation to Qatar for renewed Gaza ceasefire and hostage talks
Israel has decided to send a delegation to Qatar for talks on a possible Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal, an Israeli official said, reviving hopes of a breakthrough in negotiations to end the almost 21month war. read more People take part in a protest demanding the end of the war and immediate release of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (AP Photo) Israel will send a delegation to Qatar on Sunday to revive stalled negotiations on a potential Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal, an Israeli official told Reuters, raising hopes for a possible breakthrough in the 21-month-long conflict. The move comes shortly after Hamas said it had responded in a 'positive spirit' to a US-backed ceasefire proposal, days after President Donald Trump announced that Israel had agreed 'to the necessary conditions to finalise' a 60-day truce. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not commented on Trump's announcement, an unnamed Israeli official confirmed the delegation's imminent travel to Doha, highlighting the sensitivity of the talks. Despite renewed momentum, major gaps remain. A senior Palestinian official from a group allied with Hamas cited unresolved concerns, including the delivery of humanitarian aid, access through the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, and clarity on the timeline for Israeli troop withdrawals. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is due to meet Trump in Washington on Monday, has yet to comment on Trump's announcement, and in their public statements Hamas and Israel remain far apart. Netanyahu has repeatedly said Hamas must be disarmed, a position the militant group, which is thought to be holding 20 living hostages, has so far refused to discuss. Israeli media said on Friday that Israel had received and was reviewing Hamas' response to the ceasefire proposal. The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Gaza's health ministry says Israel's retaliatory military assault on the enclave has killed over 57,000 Palestinians. It has also caused a hunger crisis, displaced Gaza's entire population internally and prompted accusations of genocide and war crimes. Israel denies the accusations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies


Time of India
37 minutes ago
- Time of India
Millions of Americans use these 2 apps, now they are closing forever, and you might get a payout
If you've ever saved an article to or coded on these 2 apps, you'll be interested in this news. The two apps, which were once staples for readers and developers, will be shut down permanently in July. However, there is one positive aspect for many users as well. Which apps will shut down? Pocket and Glitch, two popular apps used by millions of Americans, will be permanently shut down on July 8. If you are a subscriber, you may be due a refund automatically, reported The Sun. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Rates Undo When subscription sales also ceased in late May, Pocket was taken down from app stores. However, Pocket Premium members might be eligible for reimbursements for the unused portion of their subscriptions, as per a report by The US Sun. Am I getting a refund automatically? The read-it-later app subscription costs $4.99 a month or $44.99 (£32.99) annually. Therefore, you should anticipate receiving a portion of your money back on the card you used to make the purchase if you paid for an annual membership that will not be fulfilled. Live Events The app's owner, Mozilla , stated that refunds for yearly subscribers will be issued after July 8. You just need to wait for the money to arrive. ALSO READ: Trump underwater in every key swing state, and now he's slipping in Texas too Refunds will be given to those who paid $96 (£70) for an annual subscription to Glitch Pro and still have time remaining. What happens to my saved data? Before all the data is permanently erased, users have until the end of the year to download their projects. Notably, users will have until October 8th to download their saved data before all Pocket data is permanently erased, even though the app will be shutting down the following week. Web developers are the target audience for the Glitch app, which is also giving its users refunds, as per a report by The Sun. FAQs When will Pocket and Glitch officially shut down? Both applications will be closed on July 8. Following that, users have a limited amount of time to save their data before it is permanently deleted. How do I receive my refund? You do not have to do anything. Refunds for unused subscription time will be automatically issued to the card you used after July 8.