Breakup timeline: Trump, Musk’s political bromance implodes

A once-warm relationship between US President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk dramatically unraveled Thursday in a fiery online clash that played out minute-by-minute across social media and the White House.

It all began with Trump’s reaction to Musk’s criticism of a controversial tax and spending bill championed by the former president. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said, "Look, Elon and I had a great relationship. I don't know if we will anymore. I was surprised."

Musk had previously blasted the bill on X, calling it a "disgusting abomination." Trump, seemingly caught off guard, expressed disappointment, "I'm very disappointed, because Elon knew the inner workings of this bill better than almost anybody sitting here... All of a sudden, he had a problem."

That comment triggered an immediate rebuttal from Musk, who took to X around noon to respond, "ditch the MOUNTAIN of DISGUSTING PORK in the bill... Either you get a big and ugly bill or a slim and beautiful bill. Slim and beautiful is the way."

Whatever.

Keep the EV/solar incentive cuts in the bill, even though no oil & gas subsidies are touched (very unfair!!), but ditch the MOUNTAIN of DISGUSTING PORK in the bill.

In the entire history of civilization, there has never been legislation that both big and beautiful.…

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025

Just minutes later, Musk escalated the dispute, denying Trump's claim that he was closely involved in crafting the legislation,
"False, 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!"

False, 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! https://t.co/V4ztekqd4g

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025

Then, in a post dripping with frustration and bravado, Musk claimed credit for Trump’s 2024 victory, "Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate." He added, "Such ingratitude."

Such ingratitude

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025

The tone shifted again when Musk floated a more radical idea, "Is it time to create a new political party in America that actually represents the 80% in the middle?" The post was pinned to the top of his timeline.

Is it time to create a new political party in America that actually represents the 80% in the middle?

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025

Trump, clearly infuriated, fired back on his Truth Social account, threatening to cut off federal support for Musk’s businesses, "The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts. I was always surprised that Biden didn’t do it!"

Estimates from US media suggest Musk’s companies have received around USD 18 billion in government contracts. The president's remarks struck a nerve, and Musk responded just over 30 minutes later with a bombshell accusation tied to one of America’s darkest scandals,"Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!"

Time to drop the really big bomb:@realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public.

Have a nice day, DJT!

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025

Trump, still at the White House, responded by defending the bill that sparked the entire fallout, "I don’t mind Elon turning against me, but he should have done so months ago. This is one of the Greatest Bills ever presented to Congress."

"In light of the President’s statement about cancellation of my government contracts, @SpaceX will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately," Musk then posted.

In light of the President’s statement about cancellation of my government contracts, @SpaceX will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately pic.twitter.com/NG9sijjkgW

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025

The Dragon spacecraft is central to NASA’s human spaceflight program, currently the only certified US vehicle capable of carrying astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) under a multibillion-dollar agreement.

Hours later, in a puzzling follow-up, Musk responded to a user on X saying, "OK, we won't decommission Dragon," though his tone left observers unclear on whether he was serious or backpedaling.

Good advice.

Ok, we won’t decommission Dragon.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 6, 2025

The extraordinary exchange left political analysts stunned and observers questioning whether the split between Trump and Musk marks a deeper fracture within America’s political and tech elite. Whether this feud cools off or ignites further remains to be seen.