Elon Musk Turns on Trump
After what appeared to be an amicable breakup, the electric car manufacturer and head of DOGE has launched a blistering attack on the Trump administration’s proposed spending bill
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On Friday, May 30, Elon Musk exited the Trump administration. Musk, the richest individual in the world with an estimated net worth of USD $427.4 billion, has been leading efforts to reduce the size of government since the second Trump administration began. Musk was also a major donor to Donald Trump, donating over $288 million to the presidential campaign in the second half of 2020.
Musk has officially served as a special government employee and advisor to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which was formerly the United States Digital Service until Musk rebranded it with a meme-based name. DOGE was supposedly an attempt to reduce the size of U.S. government expenditures by identifying inefficiencies and fraud. However, after over four months of work the agency (or whatever it is, DOGE’s legal status and classification remains unclear) has identified no fraud or major inefficiencies, and mostly cut spending like USAID programs the Trump administration disagreed with politically. The Trump administration is pushing a massive spending bill through the senate which Musk says would undo all of DOGE’s work.
While working for the U.S. government, Musk has remained CEO or owner of five technology companies. The largest and most famous is the electric car manufacturer Tesla, which has seen a major backlash and loss of sales due to Musk’s alignment with Trump. He is also the CEO of xAI, which owns the social media platform X, which was Twitter until Musk acquired it in 2022 for $44 billion. Musk is also CEO of the space company SpaceX, which owns and operates the internet company Starlink. Additionally, he owns the brain implant company Neuralink, and the tunnelling company The Boring Company. Many of Musk’s companies profited during his time as a member of the U.S. government, but also faced backlash for his political association. Tesla fared the worst by far.
Musk Launches Assault on Trump Administration
At first, Musk’s exit was presented as being amicable. Trump and Musk held a press conference in the Oval Office on May 30 during which Trump said that “Elon’s not really leaving,” and said he would be going back and forth between the administration and his business and personal life. He also presented Musk with a golden key with the White House insignia which he said he gives to “very special people”.
However, since leaving Musk has begun attacking the Trump administration’s proposed spending bill, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB). The OBBB is a massive omnibus bill which extends tax cuts passed during Trump’s first term that are currently expected to end in 2025. Some of its other provisions include an additional USD $150 billion for defence spending, $70 billion for border security, and increases to the child tax credit and state and local tax (SALT) deductions. It cuts the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, ends subsidized student loans for low-income students, and reduces many clean energy tax credits. OBBB adds work requirements to the U.S. health insurance program Medicaid, adds fees for recipients, bans funds going to abortion providers or for gender-affirming care, and makes it harder for illegal immigrants to access the program. It also places a 10-year moratorium on state-level enforcement of any law or regulation pertaining to AI.
Most controversially for Republicans, the OBBB also proposes raising the debt ceiling by $5 trillion. The debt ceiling is the maximum amount of money the U.S. government is allowed to borrow and is determined by congress. The debt ceiling does not affect the federal government’s budget; instead, it limits the amount of money the Treasury Department can borrow to pay for congressionally authorized spending. The U.S. debt ceiling is currently $36.1 trillion, which is the size of the federal debt. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), which is responsible for projecting the cost of government programs and policies, estimates the OBBB will add $3.8 trillion dollars to the U.S. national debt over the next decade.
Trump has called for an end to the debt ceiling, a position shared by many politicians in Washington, especially Democrats like Elizabeth Warren. Republicans often use the debt ceiling as a way to gain concessions from Democrats when the latter party has power. If the debt ceiling is not raised by a certain deadline the U.S. federal government shuts down, blocking most people from government services. This also leads to the closure of national parks, museums, and other places managed by the federal government. The Democrats do not typically use the debt ceiling as a way to fight Republicans, though they could employ this strategy if they wanted to.
Both Musk and Republican politicians like Kentucky senator Rand Paul have expressed concerns about the potential debt ceiling increase.
“We have both seen the massive waste in government spending and we know another $5 trillion in debt is a huge mistake,” Paul said on X.
In his last interview as a member of the Trump Administration, Musk told a CBS reporter that “I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful, but I don't know if it can be both. My personal opinion.”
On Tuesday, Musk took to X to attack the Trump administration and Republican Party for their support of the OBBB.
“I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it,” Musk posted. He then quoted himself to add:
“It will massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and burden America citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt”.
The OBBB is currently being considered by the senate, and is likely to change before a final vote. The bill passed the House of Representatives on May 22 by a vote of 215-214-1. Two Republicans who regularly demand fiscal restraint, Thomas Massie and Warren Davidson, voted against the bill, and Warren Davidson voted present. However, three elderly Democratic representatives have passed away since the new congress was sworn in in January, including Gerry Connolly, who passed away the day before the vote. Had any of these Democrats been present and voted against the bill, it would have been returned to committee.
However, House Republicans passing the bill does not indicate support for the debt ceiling increase. Many Republicans have said that they do not support the bill and voted for it to send it to the senate for consideration, effectively looking to the upper chamber to shut the debt limit increase down. Democrats are looking at ways to remove some of the more contentious elements of the bill using some of the byzantine senate rules like the Byrd bath. Trump is demanding that the OBBB be passed by July 4, meaning there is a lot of pressure on Republicans to pass the bill as fast as possible and not return it to the House.
Trump and Musk Duel on Their Social Media Platforms
Musk’s comments began a massive fight between the two billionaires. Trump first offered relatively limited pushback on the former member of his administration during a press conference in the Oval Office with German chancellor Friedrich Mertz. Trump has often spoken about domestic issues or subjects unrelated to his meetings during Oval Office press conferences with foreign leaders.
“Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore,” Trump said. “I was surprised because… we had a wonderful sendoff. He said wonderful things about me. You couldn’t have nicer—he said the best things. He’s worn the hat: Trump was right about everything. And I am right about the great, big, beautiful bill.”
However, Musk continued to post about the OBBB, sharing posts that said Republicans agreed with him about wanting spending in the OBBB to be reduced. He also shared old tweets by Trump, dating from around 2011-2013, where Trump attacked Republicans for raising the debt ceiling at the time. In response, Trump took to his own social media platform, Truth Social, to attack Musk more directly.
“Elon was “wearing thin,” I asked him to leave, I took away his EV Mandate that forced everyone to buy Electric Cars that nobody else wanted (that he knew for months I was going to do!), and he just went CRAZY!” Trump posted.
One of the many provisions of the OBBB is the elimination of $7,500 tax credits for electric vehicle purchases. Until recently, Musk has advocated for the elimination of these tax credits under the belief that they help rival electric car companies more than Tesla. However, Tesla and Musk have both criticized the end of the credits, with Musk pointing out that tax incentives remain for oil and gas. Many Republicans have stated that Musk turning on the president is due to the elimination of these credits, which could now be essential for an underperforming Tesla, which has seen a major dip in sales this year due largely to Musk’s association with Trump.
“Whatever. Keep the EV/solar incentive cuts in the bill, even though no oil & gas subsidies are touched (very unfair!!), but ditch the MOUNTAIN of DISGUSTING PORK in the bill. In the entire history of civilization, there has never been legislation that both big and beautiful. Everyone knows this! Either you get a big and ugly bill or a slim and beautiful bill. Slim and beautiful is the way,” Musk posted on X just after Trump’s comments in the Oval Office.
Musk posted or reposted dozens more times about the OBBB, referring to it as the Big Ugly Bill. He reposted comments by Republicans like Rand Paul and Louisiana Senator John Kennedy criticizing OBBB, as well as old comments by Trump calling for members of congress to be ineligible for re-election if they vote to raise the debt ceiling. Trump hit back hard on Truth Social for this.
“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!” Trump posted.
Musk went for the nuclear option after this, accusing Trump of being in files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the famous pedophile, convicted child sex offender and trafficker, and New York financier who provided young girls for sexual favours to wealthy elites, mostly on his private island in the Caribbean. Trump’s association with Epstein is well-known, with Trump frequently hosting Epstein at Mar-a-Lago, for example. At one point, Epstein referred to Trump as his best friend. Musk also has ties to Epstein, such as having been pictured with Epstein’s long-time girlfriend and accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.
“Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!” Musk posted. He replied to his post, adding: “Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out.”
Earlier in the day, he had posted a poll asking if it was time for “a new political party in America that actually represents the 80% in the middle”. As of publication, 80.5 per cent of respondents agreed with starting a new party, with over 5.5 million votes cast. He also reposted a comment saying that Trump should be impeached and replaced with vice-president JD Vance. These are on top of a Tuesday post in which Musk called for all the politicians who supported the OBBB in the House to be voted out.
“In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people,” Musk posted.
Tesla shares fell 14 per cent Thursday as a result of the fight between Musk and Trump, dropping the company’s market value by $150 billion. Tesla has suffered greatly as a result of Musk’s association with Trump. Tesla sales have been lower in each month of 2025 than they were in both 2023 and 2024. At the same time, the U.S. has seen a 38 per cent increase in electric vehicle sales overall in 2025.
Tesla shareholders have been demanding that Musk return to working first as the company’s CEO rather than for the White House. At the end of May, a group of Tesla shareholders sent a letter Robyn Denholm demanding that Musk work a 40-hour work week in order to address what they called a “crisis” at the company. This pressure is part of what has forced Musk to step back from his government work, irrespective of issues within the administration.
Problems Behind the Scenes Before the OBBB
Musk’s leaving the administration comes amidst both reporting and rumours of major issues behind the scenes at the White House. The New York Times published an article May 30 which said he regularly took a combination of ecstasy, ketamine, psychedelic mushrooms, and Adderall. The article says Musk took so much ketamine that he developed bladder problems, a common effect that comes with chronic use. Musk has previously said he takes ketamine as a treatment for depression.
The press conference gave a final insight into the issues behind the scenes at the White House. Sporting a black eye he claimed was caused by his five-year-old son, Musk claimed that the work of DOGE will continue, and both he and Trump downplayed the suggestion of a feud at the time. Musk also dodged a question about the New York Times story on his drug use, saying “let’s move on” and attacking the paper for its reporting on the “Russiagate hoax”.
Musk’s drug use is only one of several stories swirling about problems with his time in the White House. Axios reported in late April that Musk and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent got into a shouting match in the White House within earshot of Trump. Steve Bannon is a former advisor to Trump and central figure in the MAGA movement and he remains an informal advisor to Trump. Bannon told The Daily Mail that Musk “shoved” Bessent when Bessent confronted him about his promise to cut a trillion dollars in government spending with DOGE. Bannon’s version of the story is uncorroborated, and he has long been an enemy of Musk.
Bannon has attacked Musk relentlessly since the blow-up with Trump. He has suggested that Trump nationalize SpaceX and deport Elon Musk, who he said is an illegal immigrant.
“They should initiate a formal investigation of his immigration status because I am of the strong belief that he is an illegal alien, and he should be deported from the country immediately,” Bannon told the New York Times. Musk replied to several posts on X about Bannon’s comments by calling him a “retard”, at one point saying “Bannon is a communist retard”.
Musk’s immigration status is likely of interest to Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff and homeland security policy advisor. Miller is a famous immigration hawk who is leading the White House’s aggressive anti-immigration and deportation campaign. Miller’s wife, Katie Miller, left her job as an advisor at DOGE at the end of May to work for Musk full-time. Washington is swirling with rumours of an affair between the two, and Musk and Stephen Miller unfollowed each other on X this week. There is no direct evidence of anything but a working relationship between Musk and Katie Miller.
There are more serious indications of conflict the scenes at the White House as well. Trump unexpectedly pulled the nomination of Jared Isaacman to serve as administrator of NASA, the highest position at the space agency. Isaacman has close business ties to Musk and is generally seen as an ally of the SpaceX CEO, which meant NASA could prioritize Musk’s businesses at the expense of competitors like Virgin or Blue Origin. Isaacman’s nomination had passed through the committee stage and was set to receive a final vote in the senate before it was rescinded.
“After a thorough review of prior associations, I am hereby withdrawing the nomination of Jared Isaacman to head NASA. I will soon announce a new Nominee who will be Mission aligned, and put America First in Space. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump posted.
DOGE Benefits Musk, but Musk Does not Benefit Republicans
When he launched DOGE, Musk promised to slash two trillion dollars in funding from the U.S. government in waste, fraud, and abuse. At most, DOGE has cut $150 billion, which was all congressionally-approved programs that Musk disagreed with, mostly in the form of foreign aid. No cases of fraud have been referred to the Justice Department. DOGE cuts were essential to making the economics of the OBBB work, and many Republicans have criticized Musk for issues related to the bill’s spending proposals rather than Trump.
Trump is also reportedly frustrated with Musk over the results of the Wisconsin Supreme Court election in April. The election was high stakes for both parties as the result would decide whether the court had a Republican or Democratic majority. The court is due to rule on issues related to abortion and electoral district boundaries, the latter of which could affect the results of future elections.
Over $100 million was spent on that election, making it the most expensive state supreme court election ever. Musk spent over $25 million himself, but Democrat Susan Crawford easily won with 55 per cent of the vote. Musk’s failure to deliver a victory here was apparently one of the major issues which drove a wedge between him and Trump.
While it is not clear where the feud with Trump and Musk will go, the work of DOGE is expected to continue without its creator. DOGE is now being run by Russ Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget. Vought was a major part of the creation of Project 2025, a plan from the conservative Heritage Foundation to remake the U.S. government in line with conservative principles. Vought is now pushing for $9.4 billion of the $150 billion in cuts DOGE identified to be made permanent by congress, rather than illegally refusing to spend the money as Musk had done. On Friday evening, the U.S. Supreme Court voted to give DOGE access to the social security data of Americans for the stated goal of finding fraud within the system.