Original Title: "Friendship's Dinghy: The Dramatic Breakup of Trump and Musk's 'Love-Hate' Relationship"

Original Source: Bitpush

Elon Musk and Donald Trump, once a high-profile "love" duo in the worlds of politics and business, are now going through a dramatic fallout.

On June 4th local time, Musk took the rare step of publicly criticizing the Trump administration's push for a key bill, calling it a "disgusting abomination" on his X social platform (formerly Twitter). The world's richest man wrote, "Sorry, but I can't stand by any longer. This huge, absurd, laden-with-pork-barrel-projects Congressional bill is just a disgusting abomination!" He even urged lawmakers to "kill the bill."

The next day, on June 5th, Musk unleashed a series of tweets publicly attacking X Trump and dropped a bombshell revelation: "Trump is in Epstein's logs."

He also made a high-profile statement supporting Trump's impeachment:

It's worth noting that less than a year ago, Musk was wearing a prominent black "MAGA" hat on stage at Trump's campaign rally, joking that he was "MAGA dark." Trump, on the other hand, once saw this tech billionaire as an ally and "one of his own" on the road to reclaiming the White House. In just a few short months, the two went from intimate handshakes to open confrontation, with the rollercoaster nature of their relationship making one can't help but sigh at how the "dinghy of friendship" can capsize at a moment's notice.

As the most prominent stars in their respective fields, Trump and Musk's relationship has always been full of drama. From politics to business, they have alternated between mutual respect and direct opposition.

As the current U.S. presidential election approaches (2024), Musk began to voice support for Trump, and since then, their interactions have become the focus of public attention. One is the former president who vows to make a comeback, and the other is the world's richest man spanning electric cars, space exploration, and social media. These two bold and unconventional figures quickly drew closer but drifted further apart in the power and interest struggles.

As Axios puts it, both of these strong personalities "have a self-assured side to their character, believing they are not bound by conventional rules." Their alliance once buoyed the Republican prospects, but seasoned observers have been skeptical from the start about how long this political "honeymoon" could last, and the recent developments seem to confirm those doubts.

Key Timeline Overview

September 28, 2023: Elon Musk appears at the US-Mexico border, live streaming the immigration situation in Eagle Pass, Texas, calling for the US to "significantly expand legal immigration while accelerating approval, and at the same time, strictly block illegal entry." Musk took practical action to express his support for Trump's immigration stance and criticized the Biden administration's weak border policies.

May 24, 2024: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announces his presidential candidacy in a Twitter Spaces live stream hosted by Musk, but the event was briefly interrupted due to technical glitches. Musk had previously leaned towards supporting DeSantis over Trump, but DeSantis' campaign momentum later declined.

July 13, 2024: Trump's campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, was met with a suspected assassination attempt (gunfire causing chaos). Minutes later, Musk publicly posted on X to support Trump's re-election for the first time. This move marked Musk's official alignment with the Trump camp.

August 12, 2024: Musk hosts a live dialogue with Trump on the X platform, described by the media as "an extended version of a campaign speech." During the live stream, Musk suggested that if Trump were to win, a "Government Efficiency Committee" should be established with him at the helm to reduce bureaucratic waste. Trump jokingly remarked that it was a "good idea." A week later, Musk posted, saying, "I am willing to serve."

October 5, 2024 (or late October): Musk made his first appearance at a Trump campaign rally. He wore a black "MAGA" hat and addressed cheering supporters, saying, "As you can see, I am not only MAGA, I am Dark MAGA." Musk's high-profile embrace of this far-right subculture within the Trump camp sparked public outrage.

October 19, 2024: Musk announced through his "US PAC" that he would give "Daily $1 Million Prizes" to swing state voters if they signed a petition supporting free speech and gun rights. This innovative move was seen as Musk using his wealth to influence voters and boost Trump through unconventional means.

November 6, 2024: US Election Day. Trump was predicted by the media to win the election that night, becoming the "President-elect." Musk was invited to Mar-a-Lago to witness the victory moment with Trump.

November 12, 2024: Trump announced the establishment of the "Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)," to be co-led by Musk and Republican political rising star Vivek Ramaswamy, as an independent advisory body to reduce government spending and streamline the bureaucracy. Musk thereby gained an unprecedented informal position of real power in the new government.

February 20, 2025: Musk made a high-profile appearance at the conservative annual CPAC event as a Trump advisor and DOGE czar. Holding a red chainsaw he called the "Bureaucracy Buster," Musk vowed to slash government spending, which was met with enthusiastic cheers from the audience. This symbolized the peak of his partnership with Trump in driving the so-called "government slimdown" agenda.

April 6, 2025: Reports surfaced that Musk had privately tried to persuade Trump to abandon a new round of trade wars against allied nations, but to no avail. The news of Trump's insistence on tariff hikes caused a financial market turmoil, with the Dow plummeting and global market capitalization evaporating trillions, leading to a personal financial hit for Musk. Observers pointed out a rift between Trump and Musk, highlighting that their interests were not always aligned.

May 30, 2025: Musk and Trump jointly attended a farewell press conference at the White House. The "Trump-Musk honeymoon period" seemingly came to a successful end: Trump publicly praised Musk as having made a "revolutionary contribution to the country," calling him a "patriot" and "my friend"; Musk thanked the president, stating that he was "retiring after accomplishing his mission." However, on the same day of his resignation, Musk subtly expressed reservations about a key bill pushed by Trump.

June 3, 2025: Just days after leaving government office, Musk took to X to publicly criticize Trump's advocacy for the "Big Beautiful Bill," a large-scale tax cut and spending bill. "Shame on those who voted for it: you know you've done wrong!" Musk angrily denounced in his post. He accused the bill of packing unnecessary spending, leading to a surge in the fiscal deficit, and demanded that Congress kill the bill. Musk's past support for Trump turned into a direct confrontation at this moment.

June 5, 2025: When asked by reporters in the Oval Office about Musk's comments, Trump, in a rare display of displeasure, bluntly stated that he was "very disappointed" in Musk. "You see, Elon and I used to have a very good relationship," Trump said, "but now I'm not sure it can be repaired... he used to praise me excessively, at least he didn't directly attack me—it's probably the next step. But I'm genuinely disappointed; I did him a big favor." Trump hinted that Musk's opposition to the bill was due to plans to cancel electric vehicle subsidies, which would harm Tesla's interests. He also mocked Musk for "missing me after leaving my team," stating that many former officials would have a "love-hate relationship"—the Trump-Musk relationship had reached a freezing point.

From Estrangement to Alliance: Musk's Pivot to the Right-Wing Political Arena

Musk's interactions with Trump were not always smooth until the second half of 2023. As early as Trump's first run for office and during his presidency, Musk had a complex attitude toward the real estate tycoon turned president: in 2017, he briefly served as a Trump economic advisor but resigned in anger over Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord. Since then, the two publicly diverged on some issues. Even in July 2022, Trump mocked Musk as a "bull artist" at a rally—Musk had expressed a leaning towards supporting Florida Governor DeSantis and believed Trump should "retire after accomplishing his mission," which displeased Trump.

However, starting in 2023, Musk's political trajectory underwent a significant change. That year, Musk gradually shifted from a liberal stance to a conservative position. He increasingly criticized the Democratic government, frequently attacking President Biden and his policies on social media and in public. For example, Musk mocked Biden as the "real president being the teleprompter," stating that "if someone accidentally knocks over the teleprompter, the scene would be as awkward as the movie Anchorman." This analogy both ridiculed Biden's public mistakes and implied that, in Musk's eyes, he was merely a puppet controlled by staff. Musk also accused the Biden administration of allowing inflation to run rampant, warning that "America is heading down the path of Venezuela." He openly admitted that he, who had once "overwhelmingly supported the Democratic Party," was increasingly disappointed in the party, believing that its policies were hijacked by "radical left-wing ideology."

Musk's most direct dissatisfaction with the Biden administration was evident in its immigration, free speech, and industrial policies. In September 2023, Musk personally visited the U.S.-Mexico border to inspect the immigration situation. Wearing a cowboy hat, he appeared in the border town of Eagle Pass, Texas, livestreaming the scene of groups of immigrants wading across the river. Musk, claiming immigrant ancestry, stated he was "extremely pro-immigrant," but he advocated for the U.S. to "greatly increase the quota of legal immigrants and expedite the approval process, making it easier for hardworking and honest individuals to come to the U.S.; and to prevent those who enter the country illegally."

This "both hands" approach aligns with Trump's immigration policy direction: Trump consistently cracked down on illegal immigrants while also claiming to welcome "merit-based" legal immigrants. Musk took this opportunity to heavily criticize the Biden administration for its weak border control, stating that the current influx of migrants was putting a heavy burden on border communities. During the livestream, he endorsed Texas Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales, who complained that border residents "felt abandoned." Musk's strong stance on immigration earned cheers from Republicans, indicating that his position was increasingly aligning with the Trump camp.

Simultaneously, as the new owner of the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Musk positioned himself as a "free speech" advocate, heavily criticizing the previous management team for actions such as banning Trump's account. Shortly after acquiring Twitter in October 2022, Musk unblocked Trump's account, which had been banned for inciting the Capitol riot, and publicly invited Trump to return. Although Trump had not yet left his "Truth Social" platform at the time, Musk's actions garnered praise from conservatives, seen as a robust counterattack against "big tech censorship of conservative voices." Musk also spearheaded the exposure of the so-called "Twitter Files," revealing behind-the-scenes requests from the Biden administration for the platform to suppress sensitive content, substantiating the Trump camp's accusations of "deep state" censorship. These actions have positioned Musk as a key figure in the American right-wing free speech debate.

As reported by The New York Times, since Musk openly took sides, users on the X platform have been "more likely to be served content from Musk himself and other right-wing accounts." Musk not only shaped his conservative image but also indirectly campaigned for Trump.

However, it wasn't until mid-2023 that Musk officially embraced Trump. At that time, DeSantis, the main challenger to Trump within the Republican Party, was gaining attention, and Musk showed great interest in this younger politician. In May 2023, DeSantis chose to announce his candidacy during a Twitter Spaces audio livestream hosted by Musk. However, the livestream was plagued with technical issues, with intermittent sound and overall chaos, turning DeSantis's high-profile debut into a joke. Although Musk ended up embarrassed, his stance of teaming up with DeSantis to challenge Trump had already caught the latter's attention. Trump privately mocked Musk, saying, "He claims he's never voted for the Republican Party, yet tells me he voted for me. What a fraud." During the summer 2023 party primaries, DeSantis's momentum began to wane.

Musk gradually realized that the grassroots of the Republican Party still strongly supported Trump. Being as shrewd as he is, Musk began to reassess his political bet for the 2024 election.

Joining Forces Again: From "Embrace Trump" to Dark MAGA

In the latter half of 2024, the US presidential election campaign heated up. Despite facing legal troubles, Trump remained unrivaled within the Republican Party. At this time, Musk made an unexpected yet somewhat predictable decision: to fully support Trump's comeback campaign. The trigger was a sudden event—on July 13, 2024, Trump encountered a security emergency at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and was hastily escorted offstage by Secret Service agents. Reports suggested that there were gunshots at the scene, causing panic though no casualties were reported. This incident not only excited Trump's supporters but also moved Musk.

On the same day, Musk posted on X platform, publicly endorsing Trump for president. From that moment on, this maverick entrepreneur and this defiant politician joined forces.

Musk's embrace of the Trump camp was multifaceted. Firstly, he was generous with his funds, providing substantial support to Trump's re-election campaign. According to the Federal Election Commission data, Musk donated a whopping $2.385 billion to groups supporting Trump through his own-founded "America PAC" Super Political Action Committee. This astronomical figure catapulted him to become the biggest donor in the 2024 election cycle within the Republican camp.

Musk's donation included a creative initiative: he launched an online petition urging voters to sign in support of the First Amendment (freedom of speech) and the Second Amendment (right to bear arms), promising to draw daily lottery winners who would each receive $1 million to signatories from swing states. This unprecedented "money-for-support" campaign garnered significant attention. Some critics questioned whether this was akin to buying votes, but for conservative voters who felt restricted by speech censorship and gun control, this cash giveaway was more like a celebration. As one commentator put it, Musk, with his wealth and influence, "broke the norms of American politics" in his campaigning approach for Trump.

On the hype platform, Musk also played a unique role. In August 2024, he invited Trump to appear on the X platform for an online live dialogue.

This was Trump's first return to mainstream social media to publicly speak out after being "banned" by major social media platforms. As it is well known, prior to this, Trump could only post messages through his self-owned Truth Social, and Musk's invitation allowed him to reconnect with an audience of billions. The live broadcast between the two was described by outsiders as "an extended version of a campaign rally speech": Trump was eloquent during the live broadcast, promoting his policy positions and rarely being interrupted by Musk.

For Musk, he was happy to play a supporting role, letting Trump perform as he pleased while taking the opportunity to discuss topics he cared about. For example, Musk proposed during the live broadcast that if Trump were to win the election, he should establish a committee focused on "government efficiency" and jokingly suggested that he should lead it. Trump responded with a smile, calling it a "great idea" and even jokingly suggesting, "Maybe we should name it the Department of Government Efficiency, acronym DOGE" (coincidentally the same name as Musk's beloved Dogecoin).

A few days later, Musk made a solemn statement on X: "I am willing to serve." This gesture was both a show of allegiance to Trump and seemed to imply that he had tied his personal reputation to Trump's political fate.

As the election entered its final stages in October, Musk took to the forefront, actively campaigning and cheering for Trump. That month, he made multiple appearances at Trump's large rallies, attracting significant media attention. One of the classic appearances occurred at Madison Square Garden in New York: Musk wore an all-black "MAGA" baseball cap and a T-shirt with "Occupy Mars" printed on it, introducing himself on stage by saying, "As you can see, I am not only MAGA, I am also a dark, gothic version of MAGA." Trump's die-hard supporters in the audience erupted in enthusiastic applause and cheers.

This somewhat bizarre declaration of "dark MAGA" quickly became a popular catchphrase on social media. The so-called "dark MAGA" was originally an edgy meme online with strong right-wing and apocalyptic undertones, emphasizing achieving "Making America Great Again" through more radical and forceful means. Musk openly embraced this label, surprising and unsettling many moderate conservatives but also delighting Trump's most fervent base. Some analysts pointed out that Musk's actions were akin to extending an olive branch to Trump's camp's most extreme supporters, portraying himself as a "fellow traveler" fighting alongside them.

Musk's high-profile "endorsement" also included personally attending campaign rallies to show his support for Trump.

On October 5, 2024, wearing a red Make America Great Again cap branded with Trump's signature, he appeared at a rally in Iowa where Trump was present, attracting media attention. Musk took the stage and bluntly stated, "As you can see, I am not only MAGA—I am 'Dark MAGA.'" This statement became a topic of public discussion, with some joking that the duo resembled characters in an absurd reality show titled "The President and His Tech Magnate Sidekick." The Washington Post commented that Musk had risen to become Trump's "first buddy" in the election campaign, appearing together in public and attracting attention.

Political Honeymoon: Advancement in Advising and Mutual Praise

After Trump won the 2024 election, his relationship with Musk peaked, humorously dubbed by the media as a political "billionaire co-governance." Not only did Trump frequently praise Musk in public, but he also unprecedentedly "tailored" an informal government position for him. A week after the election, Trump announced Musk's appointment to lead the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), working alongside incoming government officials to "cut spending and trim excess." This proximity to the center of presidential power was unprecedented for an unelected business figure.

Axios bluntly stated that this made Musk "the most powerful unelected figure in American history."

On January 20, 2025, Trump was inaugurated as president in Washington, kicking off his second term. According to American media reports, Musk was also invited to attend the inauguration ceremony, sitting in the guest area of the viewing stand alongside two other tech giants, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg. These Silicon Valley figures, once viewed as political adversaries by Trump, were now gathered together for the ceremony, which was intriguing. For Musk, this was his first public appearance at a national event in the capacity of a presidential "confidant."

Shortly after the inauguration ceremony, Musk promptly took up his new role, entering the White House as a special advisor and appointed government employee to oversee DOGE's work.

During the early days of the Trump administration, Musk became a prominent figure in Washington. They mutually utilized and praised each other, creating a brief but high-profile "honeymoon period." Trump almost never missed an opportunity to bring Musk out and praise him, commending his "sheer genius" and "astonishing energy," stating that he could revolutionize the government with his business mindset. At a White House cabinet meeting, Trump thanked Musk in front of officials, saying that he had "endured adversity for the country" and calling him "a patriot and my friend." Musk, sitting on the side wearing a striking red MAGA cap, nodded shyly in acknowledgment.

During a meeting, several ministers who had previously been skeptical of Musk also raised their glasses under Trump's leadership, boasting about the "fruitful results" of his streamlining efforts. Such collective praise of Musk is rare in D.C. and quickly became the talk of the town.

Musk's actual actions in the Trump administration have also attracted attention. He swiftly carried out a series of bold moves, such as requesting budget reduction proposals from government agencies, freezing some civil service hires, suspending funding for certain federal projects, and more.

It was revealed that Musk once boasted to Trump that using DOGE alone could save the federal government at least $2 trillion in expenditures. However, while Musk fearlessly "surgically cut" multiple departments, by May 2025, he had only reduced less than 0.5% of the federal annual spending—equivalent to several billion dollars, far from the $2 trillion goal.

Despite this, Trump still publicly supported Musk's efforts and held a farewell press conference for him at the end of May. During the Oval Office press conference, Trump and Musk chatted amicably, expressed gratitude towards each other in front of the cameras, turning what could have been a controversial parting into a display of "mutual respect and smooth cooperation" like brothers.

However, some signs indicate that Musk's situation in D.C. is not as rosy as it may seem on the surface. Politico disclosed that within the White House, there is a love-hate relationship with Musk. On the one hand, Trump and some close aides highly appreciate his innovative ideas; on the other hand, many officials privately complain that Musk is "unconstrained and doesn't play by the rules," often sharing policy views directly without going through the staff system, releasing unreviewed plans to cut government spending on social media, catching cabinet members and the Chief of Staff team off guard. What's more worrying to some of Trump's allies is that Musk is increasingly becoming a new target for Democratic attacks on the Trump administration—Democrats are portraying him as a "straw man" of the Trump administration to lash out and mobilize their voter base.

For example, in a crucial spring 2025 Supreme Court Justice election in Wisconsin, the Democratic camp heavily criticized Musk for spending a huge sum to influence the election, calling it a referendum on this "extreme billionaire." As a result, the conservative candidate supported by the Republicans lost by 10 percentage points, and some Trump team members attributed it to the backlash triggered by Musk. These various signs indicate that Musk's "double-edged sword" brings both opportunities and hidden concerns.

Despite the discord, Musk and Trump still publicly demonstrate a close relationship. Not only do they frequently meet in the White House to discuss agendas, but Trump also deliberately arranges some highlight moments to showcase their "alliance." On November 19, 2024, Trump personally flew to Texas to accompany Musk in watching the SpaceX Starship launch. The image of the President and the billionaire standing side by side watching the rocket ascend quickly made the front pages of major media outlets. This scene was interpreted as the two jointly declaring a vision of "technology making America great again" and implied Trump's support for Musk's business ventures.

At the CPAC conference in February 2025, Musk took the stage as a special guest speaker. He raised high the red chainsaw, jokingly telling the audience, "This is our weapon against bureaucracy!" Interestingly, also appearing on stage with him was Argentina's newly elected populist president, Javier Milei, who promptly gifted the chainsaw to Musk. Conservative activists in the audience waved flags featuring the Shiba Inu coin logo and the words "Musk 2024," cheering for both individuals. The Associated Press commented that the scene showed Musk had become a symbol of the Trumpian conservative movement, stating that "the former supporter of Obama and Biden, now the world's richest person, stands at the center of the American right-wing political stage."

Undercurrents and Fissures: From Trade Wars to AI Regulation

However, even the hottest honeymoon cannot conceal the emerging divergences. In the spring of 2025, a series of policy contradictions began to test the alliance between Trump and Musk.

Foremost among these was the trade and tariff policy towards China. It is well known that Trump's tough stance on China trade was a hallmark of his agenda, while Musk's Tesla deeply penetrated the Chinese market, causing their interests to misalign. In early April, Trump suddenly announced a significant increase in tariffs on numerous countries, including ally nations, citing reasons such as protecting American jobs and reducing trade deficits. When the news broke, the global markets were in turmoil: major stock indices plummeted, and investor panic spread.

Due to Tesla's reliance on a global supply chain and the Chinese market, when Trump's tariff "big stick" came down, Musk's personal wealth also took a hit—reports indicated that during the stock market crash, Musk's net worth briefly fell below $300 billion.

Musk did not sit idly by. Reports revealed that over the weekend following the tariff policy announcement, he directly contacted Trump several times, pleading with the president to reconsider the decision to impose comprehensive tariffs. Musk emphasized that the trade war had already caused "turbulence in the international market," and further escalation would threaten the U.S. economy and harm Trump's benefactors' interests. However, Trump turned a deaf ear, not only refusing to back down but also threatening to "increase tariffs by another 50%" the following week.

Musk's lobbying efforts hit a wall. The UK's Guardian commented that Musk's failed tariff lobbying was seen as "a growing sign of the rift between the two." The tariff controversy demonstrated that on issues related to a nationalist economic approach, Trump and Musk's ideological differences were irreconcilable: the former insisted on trade protectionism, while the latter defended globalization and corporate interests.

Another potential point of contention is artificial intelligence (AI) policy. Musk has long held a cautious, even wary attitude towards AI, warning numerous times about its "existential threat" and calling for regulations to ensure AI safety. Meanwhile, the Trump administration leaned towards loosening regulations and encouraging competition on the AI topic. During the 2024 Trump campaign, he pledged to completely overturn Biden's AI regulatory framework, accusing the Democratic government's AI executive orders of "shackling innovation and forcing extreme left ideas."

Trump has stated that he will ensure that AI development is "rooted in free speech and human welfare," implying that companies should prioritize self-regulation and reduce government intervention. In sharp contrast, Musk not only openly supports stricter AI safety legislation but also rarely endorsed a California bill aimed at reviewing AI algorithms (although the bill was ultimately vetoed). He is concerned that unbridled AI development could lead to ethical and safety disasters. It is conceivable that in this frontier field of AI regulation, the differences between the two are only latent. Once Trump truly moves forward with abolishing AI safety measures, will Musk speak out in opposition, becoming a potential point of friction between the two.

Furthermore, Musk and Trump also have differing views on fiscal deficits and spending issues. Musk is an advocate of lean and efficient entrepreneurship and naturally wary of government deficits and debt; Trump, on the other hand, is more focused on large-scale tax cuts and high spending to stimulate the economy, not fearing federal debt.

In early 2025, the Trump administration introduced the ambitious "Big and Beautiful Act," which includes continuing the 2017 tax cuts, additional military spending, border security funding, and a significant increase in fiscal spending. Independent congressional estimates project that this plan will add $2.4 trillion to the debt over the next 10 years.

Musk is deeply concerned about this. In private settings, he reminded Trump that doing so would be equivalent to letting the gains he painstakingly carved out with DOGE flow away. By May, Musk had already prepared to step down from his DOGE position as planned but still didn't forget to sound the alarm on budget issues. He gradually made this unease public: frequently reposting deficit warning messages on X and bluntly stating that "America is speeding toward debt enslavement." Musk even hinted that if the government continues to increase debt, the United States will sooner or later taste the bitter fruit of fiscal irresponsibility.

Initially, the White House and top Republicans tried to downplay these initial signs of disagreement. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to media inquiries by stating that Musk's dissatisfaction with the budget proposal was just "a minor disagreement in an overall harmonious relationship" and would not change the president's determination to advance the bill. Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters that no matter what Musk says, Congress would implement the president's legislative agenda. However, it is undeniable that some of Trump's close associates have begun to view Musk as an "uncontrolled variable" or even a "political burden."

Politico revealed that White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and others were "extremely irritated" by Musk's unauthorized criticism of the tax reform bill, and the president's team had to make late-night calls to multiple senators to reassure them of Trump's support for the bill. Insider sources revealed that in mid-May, Trump mentioned at an internal meeting that Musk would "accomplish his mission and then retire," allowing him to return to the business world after the end of his 130-day special employee term.

In fact, during the final sprint of DOGE, Tesla saw a 71% plunge in first-quarter profit. Wall Street analysts have been calling on Musk to stop excessive involvement in politics and focus on saving Tesla's plunging stock price. Musk himself acknowledged that the company needs more of his attention. Evidently, the conflicting dual roles of "businessman and public servant" are making Musk feel torn, as the Trump camp is quietly preparing for the "post-Musk era."

The Short-Lived Prosperity: Public Rift and Fallout of Love-Hate

By the end of May 2025, Musk stepped down from his position as Special Advisor to the "Department of Government Efficiency" as originally planned. He expressed his gratitude to Trump, his colleagues, and the public on social media, stating that the "mission is basically complete, and I can now focus back on my work."

White House officials emphasized that Musk's departure was only the "completion of a phase," and the President still held appreciation for him, hoping for his continued support in the future. On May 30, as Trump and Musk staged a polite "farewell show" at the White House, the public may have believed that the two would continue their friendly cooperation. After all, during the press conference, Trump praised Musk as "terrific," and Musk nodded in agreement several times, presenting a harmonious scene of ruler and subject.

However, merely a few days later, this "honeymoon" relationship took a sharp turn. The trigger was the aforementioned debate over the "big and beautiful bill." Musk had already harbored doubts about Trump's fiscal plan, and after leaving his government position, he openly launched attacks without reservation.

In early June, he posted multiple strongly worded posts, urging Congress to take down the bill. Musk denounced the bill as "pork-filled" (metaphor for unrelated provisions), warning that it would send the federal deficit spiraling out of control. He also ridiculed

the lawmakers supporting the bill as "accomplices." Such public criticism of the President's legislative agenda was unimaginable during their time of cooperation. Musk also made a deliberate effort to separate personal feelings: he did not directly attack Trump but focused solely on the policy itself. In subsequent statements, he clarified that he is not against ending electric vehicle subsidies, stating, "As long as we can remove that disgusting 'mountain of wasteful spending' from the bill." He emphasized his opposition to the extravagant spending part of the bill that would harm Tesla's interests.

Initially, Trump responded through aides, stating that he was already aware of Musk's views on the bill, but this "will not change the President's stance in the slightest." However, Musk's high-profile "U-turn" undoubtedly left Trump furious.

During a media interview on June 5, Trump, in a rare move, openly criticized Musk by name, showing the world his cold side when a former ally turns against him. "Elon used to praise me in every way... now he hasn't attacked me personally yet, but I'm sure he will soon," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, "Honestly, I am very disappointed in Elon. I did him a lot of favors."

This sentence reveals Trump's typical "transactional" mindset: in his view, Musk has received his favor (benefactor status, political prestige), so he should repay with absolute loyalty, and the current criticism is seen as ingratitude.

Trump further implies that Musk's opposition to the bill is because the bill aims to eliminate electric car tax credits, and Musk is advocating for Tesla's interests. He also mocks Musk for "not being able to sit still after leaving and wanting to come back to work," stating that "many people regret leaving my government, some will come back to serve, some will turn their backs and become enemies." This series of statements is akin to announcing: the honeymoon between Trump and Musk is officially over, and their relationship has plunged into a cold war.

As soon as Trump's tough words fell, Musk promptly responded on X with a post, somewhat sarcastically echoing Trump's preference for the bill: "Let the slimmed-down 'Big and Beautiful Bill' win." On one hand, he emphasizes support for the streamlined version of the tax reform bill, while also insisting on cutting wasteful spending. This tit-for-tat exchange in absentia has led the media to use terms like "clash" and "rift." For a moment, the "Trump-Musk rift" became a hot topic in the political arena. Some commentators joked that the relationship between the two is proving a popular internet phrase: "The friendship's little boat, easily overturned."

What is more noteworthy is that the public fallout between Trump and Musk is not an isolated incident but a reflection of a larger conflict within the Republican Party over fiscal policy. On one side of Musk's "deficit reduction" stance, several hardcore conservative congressmen have rallied around, vehemently opposing Trump's massive tax cut and spending increase plan. These Republican senators, self-proclaimed "deficit hawks," are calling for major cuts to the government budget, leading to a split within the Trump camp.

Trump is trying to maintain party unity, privately urging opponents to "give Musk a break," temporarily ignoring his calls to push forward with the bill vote. Some White House staffers have downplayed Musk's complaints as "a one-time disagreement," claiming that the President's and Musk's overall relationship is still harmonious. However, many Republican senators within the Senate are rather disdainful of Musk. As an unnamed senior senator said, "I don't think many senators really care how Elon sees things... we listen and that's it. We are serious policymakers responsible for governing the country, not interested in his meddling." These words clearly reflect the entrenched Washington establishment's attitude towards outsiders like Musk.

As the storm brews, the Trump administration's news team found themselves in a passive position. Politico reported that those close to Trump have recently breathed a collective sigh of relief, believing Musk's timely withdrawal from the inner circle might not be a bad thing for the President. After all, with the 2026 midterm elections approaching, Trump needs full party unity to retain seats in both houses, without any hindrance. Musk, with his unruly "outsider" status, may ultimately become a drag or even an adversary.

Even Trump himself, after publicly expressing his "disappointment" in Musk, made a meaningful remark: "We used to have a good relationship, but now it's hard to say." In the political realm, this statement is equivalent to officially drawing a line.

Aftermath and Outlook: Can the Capsized Boat Be Stabilized?

Currently, the conflict between Trump and Musk regarding policy and loyalty continues to escalate. A large number of conservative media outlets and opinion leaders who support Trump have begun to criticize Musk, accusing him of being "ungrateful" and "standing against the people." Musk's supporters defend their idol, stating that he sticks to his principles and does not act as a mouthpiece for the president. For a moment, fans on both sides fiercely clashed on social media, reminiscent of the rift between Trump and his former lawyer Cohen or his fallout with former Defense Secretary Mattis. However, this time, the conflicting parties are the President on one side and the world's richest man with tremendous public influence on the other, making the situation more complex.

In the media arena, many outlets have published in-depth analyses, delving into the underlying reasons for the rupture in the relationship between the two. As early as after the 2024 election, Axios warned that there was a risk of a rupture between the "power duo" of Trump and Musk because neither of them can tolerate being the subordinate. Both individuals are ambitious and unruly, and their brief cooperation was a mutually beneficial transaction, but a long-term partnership between them is unsustainable.

On the more straightforward side, The Guardian pointed out the considerations of direct interests: the trade war and fiscal disputes have shown that Musk ultimately needs to safeguard his global business empire and personal wealth, while Trump must cater to populism and electoral promises. When conflicts arise between them, "friendship" gives way to their priorities. Some commentators even jokingly wrote that perhaps "Musk's loyalty to Trump has an expiration date of only 130 days"—coincidentally, the duration of his term as a special government employee. Once the term is over, he regains his independence, no longer constrained by team obligations, and can freely express differing opinions.

Interestingly, Trump himself has left a slight room for reconciliation in this falling-out. After harshly criticizing Musk, he then expressed, "I really want to keep him a little longer... he's doing a great job." A White House spokesperson later added, "The President really wants to keep Elon, but Elon also has his own company to run." This, on the one hand, downplays the severity of the rift, while on the other hand, seems to reveal a sense of regret and reluctance to part ways. Historically, Trump has had precedents of reconciling with former allies after falling out, such as with former campaign strategist Bannon and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who united again when politically expedient.

Therefore, some analysts believe that it is not ruled out that Trump and Musk may shake hands and make amends at some point in the future. After all, the two share common political enemies (such as the establishment Democrats) and similar foreign policy philosophies (such as distrust of the media and elites). A source familiar with both individuals told The New York Times, "This is more like a grand dance than a real duel with swords."

However, regardless of the future direction, the brief life of the "TechMa Alliance" has already left a thought-provoking episode in history. It showcased a fleeting moment of the strange intertwining of American political and commercial power: a former president willing to endow an unprecedented influence on a business leader, with the latter once exhausting resources to assist the president's comeback. Behind this "love affair," there was a driving common interest; and when interests no longer aligned, "rivalry" became inevitable.

Trump has always been "capricious, loving what's new and hating what's old," prioritizing loyalty to him above all else; Musk, on the other hand, is accustomed to "going his own way, sticking to his own path," maintaining his style even in the face of a president. This determined that cracks were embedded in the alliance between the two from its inception.

Today, the "Friendship Boat" carrying these two iconic figures of the era has already capsized in the waves. Perhaps someday in the future, Musk and Trump will choose to each take what they need, shake hands, and sail together again—just as frequently seen in American politics, where there are neither permanent friends nor permanent enemies. But one thing is certain: after this love-hate relationship, the American public, media, and even the political arena have gained a clearer understanding of the true relationship between these two individuals.

As sharply pointed out by some commentators: "Trump's so-called loyalty is merely demanding unlimited loyalty from others to him; Musk’s friendship ultimately must also yield to interest calculations." This ironic comment is probably the best warning that this political legend has given to the world.

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