Bromance over: tensions between Trump and Musk erupt into open warfare
Washington: Tensions between Donald Trump and his former 'first buddy' Elon Musk have erupted into open warfare, with the US president suggesting Musk has a version of 'Trump derangement syndrome', and the world's richest man insisting he won the election for Trump.
The friendship has crumbled swiftly since Musk officially left his White House post on Friday and proceeded to unleash a campaign against the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which extends Trump's first-term tax cuts and raises the US debt ceiling by trillions.
The breakdown in the relationship, while predicted by some from the outset, is significant because of the Tesla chief's continued reach and influence and his clear desire to tank Trump's top domestic priority.
'Elon and I had a great relationship. I don't know if we will any more,' Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday (Friday AEST).
'He was here for a long time. You saw a man who was very happy when he stood behind the Oval [Office] desk ... He said wonderful things about me. He's worn the hat, 'Trump was right about everything'. And I am right about the great big beautiful bill.'
Trump said he was surprised by Musk's barrage of criticism, but asserted the Tesla chief was upset because the bill cuts a Biden-era electric vehicle mandate which was a boon for his business.
'All of a sudden he had a problem, and he only developed a problem when he found out we were going to have to cut the EV mandate,' Trump said.
'I can understand that, but he knew every aspect of this bill, he knew it better than almost anybody, and he never had a problem until right after he left.
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