Trump Severs Ties with Elon Musk Over Tax Bill Clash—Tech Titans Collide

When billionaires feud, the market watches. Former President Trump cuts ties with Elon Musk after the SpaceX CEO publicly criticized his tax policies—proving even the richest egos bruise like the rest of ours.

No love lost between two of America's most polarizing figures. Musk's tweets torpedoed what was left of their 'mutual admiration society'—just another day in the circus of high-stakes capitalism.

Bonus jab: At least they can both write off this PR disaster as a 'business expense.'

Elon says he made Trump president as Tesla stock plunges

Elon responded in real time using his social platform, posting just one word: “Whatever.” But the billionaire didn’t stop there. He followed it up with another post attacking the bill’s content. “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,” Elon wrote.

Then he mocked Trump’s branding of the legislation, adding: “In the entire history of civilization, there has never been legislation that is 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.”

Elon also pushed back against Trump’s claim that he had prior knowledge of the EV credit cuts. “False,” he wrote. “This bill was never shown to me even once and was passed in the dead of night so fast that almost no one in Congress could even read it!”

But just when we thought it was over, Elon went even lower, saying, “Without me, Trump WOULD have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate. Such ingratitude.”

These public attacks coincided with Tesla’s stock dropping by about 4% on Thursday, erasing part of its 22% rally in May. Tesla shares are now down over 20% for the year, far from their $488.54 peak hit on December 18.

Trump allies blocked Elon’s NASA pick, says biographer

Walter Isaacson, who published a biography on Elon last year, said on Thursday that there was another key reason behind Elon’s fallout with Trump’s inner circle. Elon had pushed for his friend Jared Isaacman to take over as NASA administrator. 

But that proposal was reportedly blocked by Trump officials. “That, to Musk, was just infuriating,” Isaacson said. “Because they were going after Jared Isaacman… to get at Musk.” The biographer said Elon took it as a personal betrayal and added that the MOVE was meant to limit his influence.

The breakdown in their relationship comes just months after Elon was Trump’s single largest campaign donor, pouring more than $250 million into the 2024 reelection effort. At the time, Elon had not only given money but also taken on a temporary advisory position. 

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