Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s disagreement over a budget bill has exploded into an open feud as Musk links US president to Epstein files.
Elon Musk and President Donald Trump hold a press conference in the Oval Office at the White House May 30, 2025
Elon Musk and Donald Trump are trading barbs as their fued escalatesImage: Francis Chung/Pool/Sipa USA/picture alliance
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US President Donald Trump and his former adviser, Elon Musk are having a very public falling out.
As Trump hosted German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the White House, the US president expressed his “disappointment” with Musk over his public criticism of Trump’s tax and spending bill that is up for approval by the Senate.
Trump-Musk relationship unravels
Trump said he didn’t know if his “great relationship” with Musk would remain the same after the billionaire slammed the bill on social media as “a disgusting abomination.”
“Look, Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore. I was surprised,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
Trump claimed Musk’s opposition to the bill was driven by its elimination of tax credits for electric vehicles, which would potentially hurt Tesla.
The US president later posted on his media platform Truth Social that Musk “just went CRAZY” after “I took away his EV Mandate.”
Musk, however, says he opposes the bill because it would increase federal deficits, posting on X on Wednesday that “Congress was spending America into bankruptcy.”
It was part of a barrage of sniping posts that Musk launched on Wednesday evening.
His posts then moved from politics to the personal, with Musk linking Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Musk claims Trump in Epstein files
“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 late Wednesday evening.
Musk provided no evidence for his claims.
Trump’s previous association with the wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein, who hanged himself while awaiting trial, has been widely reported in the past.The US president later posted on his media platform Truth Social that Musk “just went CRAZY” after “I took away his EV Mandate.”
Musk, however, says he opposes the bill because it would increase federal deficits, posting on X on Wednesday that “Congress was spending America into bankruptcy.”
