US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Elon Musk, threatening “serious consequences” if the billionaire supports efforts to unseat Republicans who back a controversial spending bill.
Speaking to NBC News on Saturday, Trump condemned Musk’s recent criticism of the legislation, which could be central to Trump’s second-term agenda. The tech mogul had slammed the bill as an “abomination” and hinted at funding primary challengers against GOP supporters of the measure.
“He’ll have to pay very serious consequences if he does that,” Trump said, calling Musk “disrespectful” and adding that he had no intention of speaking with him again.
Just days earlier, their alliance appeared intact, with Trump praising Musk’s work at the now-disbanded Department of Government Efficiency. But their relationship quickly unraveled after Musk’s public attacks on the bill and Trump’s retaliatory comments from the Oval Office.
The feud escalated when Musk posted — and later deleted — unsubstantiated claims linking Trump to Jeffrey Epstein, suggesting the president appeared in unreleased files connected to the disgraced financier. Trump dismissed the claims as “old news,” stating, “Even Epstein’s lawyer said I had nothing to do with it.”
Though tensions seemed to ease briefly on Friday — with Trump saying, “I just wish him well,” and Musk replying “Likewise” on X — the conflict has raised political stakes in Washington. Musk has not provided evidence for his Epstein claims, and no official sources have confirmed Trump’s involvement in any unreleased files.
Trump and Epstein were known to have socialized in the past, but Trump has denied any wrongdoing or visits to Epstein’s infamous private island.
