From Budget Wars to Government Contracts, Elon Musk Becomes Trump’s New Favorite Enemy
Once the tech darling of MAGA-world, Elon Musk is now facing the wrath of Donald Trump, the very president he once stood beside in the White House. What began as a bromance rooted in political ambition and space-age optimism has spiraled into one of the most bizarre and public political breakups in modern U.S. history.
From Truth Social flame wars to threats of defunding billions in government contracts, the Trump–Musk feud is no longer about electric cars or tax cuts. It’s about power, ego, and legacy.
From DOGE to Doom: Musk’s Fallout with Trump
The drama escalated when Musk openly criticized Trump’s “Big and Beautiful” budget plan, calling it fiscally reckless and “the beginning of America’s debt implosion.” As head of the now-defunct Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Musk-pioneered federal initiative to slash government costs — Elon had once vowed to clean up bureaucracy and reduce public sector bloat.
But when Trump’s new super-budget passed the Senate by a razor-thin margin, all bets were off. The bill, projected to add $3.3 trillion to the national deficit over 9 years, struck at the very foundation of Musk’s cost-cutting mission.
“Without Subsidies, He’d Be Back in South Africa”
Trump didn’t hold back. In a midnight Truth Social post, the former president fired a direct shot at Musk:
“If not for government subsidies, Elon would’ve shut down and flown back to his home in South Africa. His rockets, satellites, and EVs?
He then joked that the DOGE department should “study how much we’d save if we canceled every Elon Musk project.”
The post sparked a viral reaction, with MAGA loyalists echoing the sentiment across social media, pushing “#FuckElon” into trending territory.
$38 Billion in Subsidies and Counting
According to a Washington Post investigation, Musk’s empire has secured over $38 billion in government contracts and subsidies over the years from SpaceX’s $22B military and NASA deals, to Tesla’s electric vehicle tax credits, and even Neuralink’s FDA-regulated trials.
Trump’s team is now threatening to review and potentially revoke these contracts, framing Musk as the poster child of corporate welfare — a stunning reversal from their previous alliance.
“I’ll Form a New Party in 24 Hours”
Musk didn’t take the insult lying down.
On his X platform (formerly Twitter), he declared that if the super-budget passed, he would launch a third-party political movement called the America Party, aimed at “disrupting the two-party stranglehold.”
The post racked up millions of views, sparking speculation about whether Musk is truly done with Trump whether his political ambitions now include the White House itself.
Tesla Stock Plunges, GOP Targets EV Credits
Meanwhile, the fallout isn’t just digital. Tesla’s stock price tumbled after the public spat intensified. Adding fuel to the fire, Senate Republicans inserted a proposal into the budget that would eliminate the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, directly hurting Tesla’s bottom line.
Analysts like Daniel Ives of Wedbush Securities warned that this feud could spiral into an investor nightmare:
“The worst-case scenario is exactly what’s happening. Trump going from best friend to public enemy. Investors want Elon out of politics, but instead, he’s doubling down.”
Political Satire or Geopolitical Risk?
With Starlink’s satellite systems deeply embedded in military and rural infrastructure, some in the Pentagon now worry about what defunding Musk might mean for U.S. defense capabilities.
And yet, both camps continue lobbing grenades on social media with memes, insults, and viral hashtags dominating headlines.