Tensions continue to escalate between U.S. President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk after the tech mogul, once a close ally, criticized a recently passed budget law.
Their relationship had already shown signs of strain since Musk stepped down from his role as head of the government oversight agency (DOGE) and returned to focus on his private ventures.
The situation worsened when Trump’s administration supported tax subsidies for electric vehicles, a market heavily invested in by Musk through Tesla.
These subsidies helped Tesla sell more cars due to reduced taxes. Alarmed by the legislation, Musk attempted to lobby lawmakers to vote it down, but failed.
Musk recently denounced the budget bill as something that could “destroy America,” urging Trump to have his fellow Republicans in the Senate repeal it.
Speaking to CBS, Musk accused Trump of betrayal and criticized the massive government spending, including subsidies, saying it worsens the national budget deficit.
He added: “A law can be big or good, but I don’t think it can be both.”
On Thursday, as President Trump hosted German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, he defended the law Musk opposed, calling it excellent and central to his campaign promises to Americans.
Trump told reporters he was “deeply disappointed” in Musk and that their relationship would never be the same.
He said: “I was shocked. I was really hurt because Elon knew better than anyone what was in that bill.”
Trump went on to suggest that Musk “clearly has a problem.”
Later, on his Truth Social platform, Trump mocked Musk, claiming the billionaire had “lost his mind” over electric cars.
In response, Musk posted on X, calling Trump “ungrateful” despite the support Musk gave him during the 2024 presidential election.
He wrote: “If it weren’t for me, Trump would have lost. Democrats would control the House, and Republicans would be stuck at 49 or 51 in the Senate. What an ungrateful man!”
Musk also stated that Trump never once showed him the bill’s contents and dismissed Trump’s claims as “nonsense.”
He added that the most disappointing part was that the bill passed at night, with lawmakers voting on it without reading it.
