U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday declared his relationship with billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk officially over, warning of “serious consequences” if Musk continues to support Democratic candidates opposed to his administration’s key legislation.
In a phone interview with NBC News, Trump made it clear he has no intention of reconciling with the Tesla and SpaceX CEO. “I would assume so, yeah,” Trump said when asked if the relationship was beyond repair. Pressed further, he responded bluntly, “I have no intention of speaking to him.”
The fallout comes after Musk criticized Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill, calling it a “disgusting abomination.” The bill, which narrowly passed the House, faces further debate in the Senate. Musk’s opposition has complicated the legislative process, as Republicans hold only slim majorities in both chambers.
Trump refrained from confirming whether he planned to revoke Musk’s government contracts, which include SpaceX rocket launches and the Starlink satellite internet service. However, he warned that consequences could follow if Musk continues to back Democratic challengers to pro-Trump Republicans.
The public rift escalated rapidly this past week, with both figures trading jabs online. Musk deleted several critical social media posts, including one that appeared to endorse Trump’s impeachment and Vice President JD Vance as a potential replacement. In one now-deleted post, Musk replied “yes” to a user who wrote: “President vs Elon. Who wins? My money’s on Elon. Trump should be impeached.”
On a podcast episode released Saturday, Vance responded to Musk’s comments, calling them a “huge mistake.” He added, “I’m always going to be loyal to the president, and I hope that eventually Elon kind of comes back into the fold.”
Despite the feud, Trump expressed confidence that his legislative package would ultimately pass by July 4, stating: “People that were going to vote for it are now enthusiastically going to vote for it.”
During Trump’s second term, which began on January 20, 2025, Republicans have largely supported his policy agenda. While some lawmakers have voiced concerns, none have blocked his initiatives.
Musk played a significant role in Trump’s 2024 re-election campaign, donating nearly $300 million and helping Republicans retain the House while regaining control of the Senate. In return, Trump appointed him to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, where Musk pledged to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget. So far, actual reductions have been modest—amounting to just half a percent of federal spending.
Sources close to Musk say his anger toward Trump is beginning to subside, suggesting he may be open to reconciliation. However, Musk is not expected to join Trump at a UFC event in New Jersey this weekend, unlike two previous occasions since the election.
As of Saturday, neither Musk nor the White House has responded to requests for comment on the deleted posts.
