Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has fired back at U.S. President Donald Trump in a fiery exchange over a controversial economic bill, claiming that Trump would have lost the election without his backing.
The feud between the former allies erupted publicly on Thursday, June 5, after Trump criticised Musk for opposing his administration’s sweeping economic legislation, which includes cuts to electric vehicle (EV) incentives.
In response, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO took to his social media platform, X, to deliver a scathing rebuttal.
“Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate,” Musk wrote, adding “Such ingratitude” in the comments.
Tensions between the two had been mounting, but Trump’s remarks during a press briefing with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made their fractured relationship official.
“Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore,” Trump said, adding, “I’m very disappointed … I’ve helped Elon a lot.”
Although Trump acknowledged that Musk hadn’t directly attacked him, he suggested a personal slight might be imminent. The president also claimed Musk’s opposition stemmed from cuts to EV tax credits in the bill, saying, “He only developed the problem when he found out we’re going to cut the EV mandate.”
Musk didn’t hold back, disputing Trump’s claims and slamming the legislative process. “False,” he posted. “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!”
In a follow-up post, Musk urged lawmakers to keep EV and solar incentive cuts in the bill “if necessary,” but demanded the removal of what he described as a “MOUNTAIN of DISGUSTING PORK,” referencing unrelated spending provisions in the legislation.
The escalating public spat underscores a dramatic shift in what was once a strategic alliance between Trump and Musk, with both now openly questioning each other’s integrity and motives.
