Trump-Musk bromance descends into brawl over contracts and impeachment
Donald Trump threatened on Thursday to cut off government contracts to Elon Musk's companies and the world's richest man suggested the US president should be impeached, marking a stark end to an unlikely alliance and leaving onlookers wondering what was next.
The hostilities between the former allies intensified when the president criticised Tesla CEO Musk in the Oval Office and the pair then lobbed verbal barbs at each other on their social media platforms, Trump's Truth Social and Musk's X.
"The easiest way to save money in our budget, billions and billions of dollars, is to terminate Elon's governmental subsidies and contracts," Trump posted.
Tesla shares closed down more than 14% on Thursday, losing about $150bn (R2.6-trillion) in market value in the largest single-day decline in value in its history.
Minutes after the closing bell, Musk replied "Yes" to a post on X saying Trump should be impeached, an unthinkable move in Congress where Trump's Republicans hold majorities in the two chambers.
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