Trump-Musk bromance over as public feud escalates
US President Donald Trump has lashed out against Elon Musk, saying he was "disappointed" by the billionaire's public opposition to the sweeping tax-cut and spending bill that is at the heart of Trump's agenda.
And Musk lashed back, saying - without providing evidence - that Trump was implicated in the Jeffrey Epstein files.
"Look, Elon and I had a great relationship. I don't know if we will anymore," Trump said in the Oval Office on Thursday.
"He said the most beautiful things about me, and he hasn't said bad about me personally, but I'm sure that'll be next. But I'm, I'm very disappointed in Elon. I've helped Elon a lot."
Trump earlier posted on his Truth Social website about how the US Budget could save money by terminating Musk's contracts with the government.
"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!," he wrote.
Musk fired back on X by saying Trump is mentioned in still-secret Justice Department files related to wealthy financier Epstein and he suggested that was why the records have not been released.
Musk provided no support for the claim, but it came amid a spectacular and public disintegration of his once-close relationship with Trump.
Trump also asserted that Musk's days of blistering attacks on the bill were motivated by the proposed elimination of consumer tax credits for electric vehicles. Musk, the CEO of electric vehicle maker Tesla, has said he opposes the bill because it will increase federal deficits.
Trump suggested that Musk, who received a praise-filled send-off from Trump last week after overseeing his federal bureaucracy cost-cutting campaign, was upset because he missed working for Trump.
"He's not the first," Trump said.
"People leave my administration ... then at some point they miss it so badly, and some of them embrace it and some of them actually become hostile."
As Trump was speaking, Musk wrote on X, "Slim Beautiful Bill for the win," a reference to the bill's official title, the Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Musk followed that up with another post, saying he was fine with the cuts to electric vehicle credits as long as Republicans removed what he called a "mountain of disgusting pork" in wasteful spending from the bill.
Musk came into the government with brash plans to cut $US2 trillion ($A3.1 trillion) out of the federal budget. He left last week having achieved far less than that, having cut about half of one per cent of total spending.
Musk has been a powerful Trump ally, spending nearly $US300 million ($A460 million) to boost Republicans in the 2024 election and then overseeing Trump's Department of Government Efficiency.
His work eliminating thousands of federal jobs and cutting billions of dollars in foreign aid and other programs caused disruption across federal agencies while prompting widespread protests at Tesla outlets in the US and Europe.
Shares of Tesla extended losses after Trump's criticism of Musk. The stock was lately down nearly six per cent; it was off by three per cent before Trump spoke.
with AP
US President Donald Trump has lashed out against Elon Musk, saying he was "disappointed" by the billionaire's public opposition to the sweeping tax-cut and spending bill that is at the heart of Trump's agenda.
And Musk lashed back, saying - without providing evidence - that Trump was implicated in the Jeffrey Epstein files.
"Look, Elon and I had a great relationship. I don't know if we will anymore," Trump said in the Oval Office on Thursday.
"He said the most beautiful things about me, and he hasn't said bad about me personally, but I'm sure that'll be next. But I'm, I'm very disappointed in Elon. I've helped Elon a lot."
Trump earlier posted on his Truth Social website about how the US Budget could save money by terminating Musk's contracts with the government.
"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!," he wrote.
Musk fired back on X by saying Trump is mentioned in still-secret Justice Department files related to wealthy financier Epstein and he suggested that was why the records have not been released.
Musk provided no support for the claim, but it came amid a spectacular and public disintegration of his once-close relationship with Trump.
Trump also asserted that Musk's days of blistering attacks on the bill were motivated by the proposed elimination of consumer tax credits for electric vehicles. Musk, the CEO of electric vehicle maker Tesla, has said he opposes the bill because it will increase federal deficits.
Trump suggested that Musk, who received a praise-filled send-off from Trump last week after overseeing his federal bureaucracy cost-cutting campaign, was upset because he missed working for Trump.
"He's not the first," Trump said.
"People leave my administration ... then at some point they miss it so badly, and some of them embrace it and some of them actually become hostile."
As Trump was speaking, Musk wrote on X, "Slim Beautiful Bill for the win," a reference to the bill's official title, the Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Musk followed that up with another post, saying he was fine with the cuts to electric vehicle credits as long as Republicans removed what he called a "mountain of disgusting pork" in wasteful spending from the bill.
Musk came into the government with brash plans to cut $US2 trillion ($A3.1 trillion) out of the federal budget. He left last week having achieved far less than that, having cut about half of one per cent of total spending.
Musk has been a powerful Trump ally, spending nearly $US300 million ($A460 million) to boost Republicans in the 2024 election and then overseeing Trump's Department of Government Efficiency.
His work eliminating thousands of federal jobs and cutting billions of dollars in foreign aid and other programs caused disruption across federal agencies while prompting widespread protests at Tesla outlets in the US and Europe.
Shares of Tesla extended losses after Trump's criticism of Musk. The stock was lately down nearly six per cent; it was off by three per cent before Trump spoke.
with AP
US President Donald Trump has lashed out against Elon Musk, saying he was "disappointed" by the billionaire's public opposition to the sweeping tax-cut and spending bill that is at the heart of Trump's agenda.
And Musk lashed back, saying - without providing evidence - that Trump was implicated in the Jeffrey Epstein files.
"Look, Elon and I had a great relationship. I don't know if we will anymore," Trump said in the Oval Office on Thursday.
"He said the most beautiful things about me, and he hasn't said bad about me personally, but I'm sure that'll be next. But I'm, I'm very disappointed in Elon. I've helped Elon a lot."
Trump earlier posted on his Truth Social website about how the US Budget could save money by terminating Musk's contracts with the government.
"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!," he wrote.
Musk fired back on X by saying Trump is mentioned in still-secret Justice Department files related to wealthy financier Epstein and he suggested that was why the records have not been released.
Musk provided no support for the claim, but it came amid a spectacular and public disintegration of his once-close relationship with Trump.
Trump also asserted that Musk's days of blistering attacks on the bill were motivated by the proposed elimination of consumer tax credits for electric vehicles. Musk, the CEO of electric vehicle maker Tesla, has said he opposes the bill because it will increase federal deficits.
Trump suggested that Musk, who received a praise-filled send-off from Trump last week after overseeing his federal bureaucracy cost-cutting campaign, was upset because he missed working for Trump.
"He's not the first," Trump said.
"People leave my administration ... then at some point they miss it so badly, and some of them embrace it and some of them actually become hostile."
As Trump was speaking, Musk wrote on X, "Slim Beautiful Bill for the win," a reference to the bill's official title, the Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Musk followed that up with another post, saying he was fine with the cuts to electric vehicle credits as long as Republicans removed what he called a "mountain of disgusting pork" in wasteful spending from the bill.
Musk came into the government with brash plans to cut $US2 trillion ($A3.1 trillion) out of the federal budget. He left last week having achieved far less than that, having cut about half of one per cent of total spending.
Musk has been a powerful Trump ally, spending nearly $US300 million ($A460 million) to boost Republicans in the 2024 election and then overseeing Trump's Department of Government Efficiency.
His work eliminating thousands of federal jobs and cutting billions of dollars in foreign aid and other programs caused disruption across federal agencies while prompting widespread protests at Tesla outlets in the US and Europe.
Shares of Tesla extended losses after Trump's criticism of Musk. The stock was lately down nearly six per cent; it was off by three per cent before Trump spoke.
with AP
US President Donald Trump has lashed out against Elon Musk, saying he was "disappointed" by the billionaire's public opposition to the sweeping tax-cut and spending bill that is at the heart of Trump's agenda.
And Musk lashed back, saying - without providing evidence - that Trump was implicated in the Jeffrey Epstein files.
"Look, Elon and I had a great relationship. I don't know if we will anymore," Trump said in the Oval Office on Thursday.
"He said the most beautiful things about me, and he hasn't said bad about me personally, but I'm sure that'll be next. But I'm, I'm very disappointed in Elon. I've helped Elon a lot."
Trump earlier posted on his Truth Social website about how the US Budget could save money by terminating Musk's contracts with the government.
"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!," he wrote.
Musk fired back on X by saying Trump is mentioned in still-secret Justice Department files related to wealthy financier Epstein and he suggested that was why the records have not been released.
Musk provided no support for the claim, but it came amid a spectacular and public disintegration of his once-close relationship with Trump.
Trump also asserted that Musk's days of blistering attacks on the bill were motivated by the proposed elimination of consumer tax credits for electric vehicles. Musk, the CEO of electric vehicle maker Tesla, has said he opposes the bill because it will increase federal deficits.
Trump suggested that Musk, who received a praise-filled send-off from Trump last week after overseeing his federal bureaucracy cost-cutting campaign, was upset because he missed working for Trump.
"He's not the first," Trump said.
"People leave my administration ... then at some point they miss it so badly, and some of them embrace it and some of them actually become hostile."
As Trump was speaking, Musk wrote on X, "Slim Beautiful Bill for the win," a reference to the bill's official title, the Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Musk followed that up with another post, saying he was fine with the cuts to electric vehicle credits as long as Republicans removed what he called a "mountain of disgusting pork" in wasteful spending from the bill.
Musk came into the government with brash plans to cut $US2 trillion ($A3.1 trillion) out of the federal budget. He left last week having achieved far less than that, having cut about half of one per cent of total spending.
Musk has been a powerful Trump ally, spending nearly $US300 million ($A460 million) to boost Republicans in the 2024 election and then overseeing Trump's Department of Government Efficiency.
His work eliminating thousands of federal jobs and cutting billions of dollars in foreign aid and other programs caused disruption across federal agencies while prompting widespread protests at Tesla outlets in the US and Europe.
Shares of Tesla extended losses after Trump's criticism of Musk. The stock was lately down nearly six per cent; it was off by three per cent before Trump spoke.
with AP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
9 News
40 minutes ago
- 9 News
Vance says Musk making a 'huge mistake' in going after Trump before downplaying attacks
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here But the vice president, in an interview released on Friday after the very public blow up between the world's richest man and arguably the world's most powerful, also tried to downplay Musk's blistering attacks as an "emotional guy" who got frustrated. "I hope that eventually Elon comes back into the fold. Maybe that's not possible now because he's gone so nuclear," Vance said. Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance attend an election campaign event, October 5, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Vance's comments come as other Republicans in recent days have urged the two men, who months ago were close allies spending significant time together, to mend fences. Musk's torrent of social media posts attacking Trump came as the president portrayed him as disgruntled and "CRAZY" and threatened to cut the government contracts held by his businesses. Musk, who runs electric vehicle maker Tesla, internet company Starlink and rocket company SpaceX, lambasted Trump's centerpiece tax cuts and spending bill but also suggested Trump should be impeached and claimed without evidence that the government was concealing information about the president's association with infamous pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. "Look, it happens to everybody," Vance said in the interview. "I've flown off the handle way worse than Elon Musk did in the last 24 hours." Vance made the comments in an interview with "manosphere" comedian Theo Von, who last month joked about snorting drugs off a mixed-race baby and the sexuality of men in the US Navy when he opened for Trump at a military base in Qatar. The vice president told Von that as Musk for days was calling on social media for Congress to kill Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill," the president was "getting a little frustrated, feeling like some of the criticisms were unfair coming from Elon, but I think has been very restrained because the president doesn't think that he needs to be in a blood feud with Elon Musk." Elon Musk carries his son X Æ A-Xii as they arrives on Air Force One with US President Donald Trump, left, at Miami International Airport, April 12, 2025, in Miami, Fla (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) "I actually think if Elon chilled out a little bit, everything would be fine," he added. Musk appeared by Saturday morning to have deleted his posts about Epstein. The interview was taped on Thursday as Musk's posts were unfurling on X, the social media network the billionaire owns. During the interview, Von showed the vice president Musk's claim that Trump's administration hasn't released all the records related to sex abuser Jeffrey Epstein because Trump is mentioned in them. Vance responded to that, saying, "Absolutely not. Donald Trump didn't do anything wrong with Jeffrey Epstein." "This stuff is just not helpful," Vance said in response to another post shared by Musk calling for Trump to be impeached and replaced with Vance. "It's totally insane. The president is doing a good job." President Donald Trump waves with Vice President JD Vance as they depart after welcoming the 2025 College Football National Champions, the Ohio State University football team, during an event on the South Lawn of the White House, Monday, April 14, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) (AP) Vance called Musk an "incredible entrepreneur," and said that Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, which sought to cut government spending and laid off or pushed out thousands of workers, was "really good." The vice president also defended the bill that has drawn Musk's ire, and said its central goal was not to cut spending but to extend the 2017 tax cuts approved in Trump's first term. The bill would slash spending but also leave some 10.9 million more people without health insurance and spike deficits by $2.4 trillion over the decade, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Musk has warned that the bill will increase the federal deficit and called it a "disgusting abomination." "It's a good bill," Vance said. "It's not a perfect bill." He also said it was ridiculous for some House Republicans who voted for the bill but later found parts objectional to claim they hadn't had time to read it. Vance said the text had been available for weeks and said, "the idea that people haven't had an opportunity to actually read it is ridiculous." Elon Musk and Donald Trump have had a nasty falling out. (AP) Elsewhere in the interview, Vance laughed as Von cracked jokes about famed abolitionist Frederick Douglass' sexuality. "We're gonna talk to the Smithsonian about putting up an exhibit on that," Vance joked. "And Theo Von, you can be the narrator for this new understanding of the history of Frederick Douglass." The podcaster also asked the vice president if he "got high" on election night to celebrate Trump's victory. Vance laughed and joked that he wouldn't admit it if he did. "I did not get high," he then said. "I did have a fair amount to drink that night." The interview was taped in Nashville at a restaurant owned by musician Kid Rock, a Trump ally. World Donald Trump JD Vance elon musk CONTACT US Property News: The last inner Sydney suburbs where houses cost under $2m.
West Australian
an hour ago
- West Australian
Vance downplays row between Trump, 'emotional guy' Musk
US Vice President JD Vance says Elon Musk was making a "huge mistake" going after President Donald Trump in a storm of bitter and inflammatory social media posts after a falling out between the two men. But the vice president, in a podcast interview released after the very public blow up between the world's richest man and arguably the world's most powerful, also tried to downplay Musk's blistering attacks as an "emotional guy" who got frustrated. "I hope that eventually Elon comes back into the fold. Maybe that's not possible now because he's gone so nuclear," Vance said. Vance's comments come as other Republicans in recent days have urged the two men, who months ago were close allies spending significant time together, to mend fences. Musk's torrent of social media posts attacking Trump came as the president portrayed him as disgruntled and "crazy" and threatened to cut the government contracts held by his businesses. Musk, who runs electric vehicle maker Tesla, internet company Starlink and rocket company SpaceX, lambasted Trump's centrepiece tax cuts and spending bill but also suggested Trump should be impeached and claimed without evidence that the government was concealing information about the president's association with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. "Look, it happens to everybody," Vance said in the interview with comedian Theo Von. "I've flown off the handle way worse than Elon Musk did in the last 24 hours." Vance told Von that as Musk for days was calling on social media for the US Congress to kill Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill," the president was "getting a little frustrated, feeling like some of the criticisms were unfair coming from Elon, but I think has been very restrained because the president doesn't think that he needs to be in a blood feud with Elon Musk". "I actually think if Elon chilled out a little bit, everything would be fine," he added. Musk had by Saturday morning deleted his X posts about Trump and Epstein. The interview was recording on Thursday as Musk's posts were unfurling on X, the social media network the billionaire owns. During the interview, Von showed the vice president Musk's claim that Trump's administration hasn't released all the records related to sex abuser Jeffrey Epstein because Trump is mentioned in them. Vance responded to that, saying "Absolutely not. Donald Trump didn't do anything wrong with Jeffrey Epstein". "This stuff is just not helpful," Vance said in response to another post shared by Musk calling for Trump to be impeached and replaced with Vance. "It's totally insane. The president is doing a good job." Vance called Musk an "incredible entrepreneur" and said that Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, which sought to cut government spending and laid off or pushed out thousands of workers, was "really good". The vice president also defended the bill that has drawn Musk's ire, and said its central goal was not to cut spending but to extend the 2017 tax cuts approved in Trump's first term. Musk has warned that the bill will increase the federal deficit and called it a "disgusting abomination". "It's a good bill," Vance said. "It's not a perfect bill."
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Vance downplays row between Trump, 'emotional guy' Musk
US Vice President JD Vance says Elon Musk was making a "huge mistake" going after President Donald Trump in a storm of bitter and inflammatory social media posts after a falling out between the two men. But the vice president, in a podcast interview released after the very public blow up between the world's richest man and arguably the world's most powerful, also tried to downplay Musk's blistering attacks as an "emotional guy" who got frustrated. "I hope that eventually Elon comes back into the fold. Maybe that's not possible now because he's gone so nuclear," Vance said. Vance's comments come as other Republicans in recent days have urged the two men, who months ago were close allies spending significant time together, to mend fences. Musk's torrent of social media posts attacking Trump came as the president portrayed him as disgruntled and "crazy" and threatened to cut the government contracts held by his businesses. Musk, who runs electric vehicle maker Tesla, internet company Starlink and rocket company SpaceX, lambasted Trump's centrepiece tax cuts and spending bill but also suggested Trump should be impeached and claimed without evidence that the government was concealing information about the president's association with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. "Look, it happens to everybody," Vance said in the interview with comedian Theo Von. "I've flown off the handle way worse than Elon Musk did in the last 24 hours." Vance told Von that as Musk for days was calling on social media for the US Congress to kill Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill," the president was "getting a little frustrated, feeling like some of the criticisms were unfair coming from Elon, but I think has been very restrained because the president doesn't think that he needs to be in a blood feud with Elon Musk". "I actually think if Elon chilled out a little bit, everything would be fine," he added. Musk had by Saturday morning deleted his X posts about Trump and Epstein. The interview was recording on Thursday as Musk's posts were unfurling on X, the social media network the billionaire owns. During the interview, Von showed the vice president Musk's claim that Trump's administration hasn't released all the records related to sex abuser Jeffrey Epstein because Trump is mentioned in them. Vance responded to that, saying "Absolutely not. Donald Trump didn't do anything wrong with Jeffrey Epstein". "This stuff is just not helpful," Vance said in response to another post shared by Musk calling for Trump to be impeached and replaced with Vance. "It's totally insane. The president is doing a good job." Vance called Musk an "incredible entrepreneur" and said that Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, which sought to cut government spending and laid off or pushed out thousands of workers, was "really good". The vice president also defended the bill that has drawn Musk's ire, and said its central goal was not to cut spending but to extend the 2017 tax cuts approved in Trump's first term. Musk has warned that the bill will increase the federal deficit and called it a "disgusting abomination". "It's a good bill," Vance said. "It's not a perfect bill."
