Elon Musk vs. Donald Trump: "Trump Would Have Lost Without Me" — Musk’s Statement Sparks New Controversy
A fresh political storm has erupted in the United States as Tesla CEO Elon Musk and former President Donald Trump engage in a public war of words. What once appeared to be a cordial relationship has now devolved into a bitter confrontation, with both leaders openly criticizing each other over policy disagreements and personal grievances. The latest flashpoint is the Republican-backed tax and spending bill, which Elon Musk has vocally opposed. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Musk made a bold statement that has added fuel to the fire: “Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Democrats would have controlled the House, and Republicans would have won the Senate by a vote of 51-49.”
Musk accused the Trump administration of favoring fossil fuel industries while cutting crucial subsidies for electric vehicles (EVs) and solar energy. “This is ungrateful,” Musk wrote, referring to the government's decision to maintain support for oil and gas companies while slashing incentives for green technologies. He further criticized the bill, calling it fiscally irresponsible and warning it would deepen the national deficit. “Those who voted for it should be ashamed,” he added. This outburst comes after months of growing tension between Musk and Trump. Once aligned on several issues, Musk had initially been a part of Trump’s advisory team. However, ideological differences — particularly on climate and technology policies — eventually drove a wedge between them.
Trump, in response, expressed his disappointment with Musk in a public statement:
“I’m very disappointed in Elon. I’ve helped him a lot. He knew about the tax and spending bill from the beginning and had no objections then. But the moment he found out that we were cutting back on EV orders because it was costing billions of dollars, he suddenly had a problem.” Trump also questioned the future of their relationship, saying, “I always liked Elon Musk, but now I don’t know if our relationship will remain the same.”
The rift marks a significant moment in U.S. political and business circles, as two of the most influential figures — one in politics, the other in tech — engage in a very public fallout. With the 2024 election still fresh in memory and 2028 political maneuvering already underway, this feud is expected to have far-reaching implications for Republican policy-making and corporate-political alliances in America.