The relationship between the President of the United States, Donald Trump, and the tech magnate, Elon Musk, has entered a phase of visible tension, characterized by a strong exchange of public accusations and what could signify a definitive break.
The breaking point was Musk's criticism of the new tax plan promoted by the White House, which led the president to openly express his disappointment with the magnate on Thursday.
“Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if it will continue that way. I was surprised. […] I’m very disappointed because Elon knew the details of the bill better than anyone else,” Trump stated from the Oval Office, while accompanied by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Trump hinted that the differences go beyond a simple disagreement.
“He said very nice things about me and hasn't said anything bad about me personally, but I'm sure that's what will come next. I am very disappointed in Elon. I have helped him a lot,” he added.
Trump acknowledged, however, the effort of the South African-born businessman during his collaboration in the government: “Musk worked hard and did a good job", and he emphasized that he thinks Elon is missing the Oval Office.
The president stated that the source of the discord could be related to the intention of eliminating the tax credit for electric vehicles, which would directly impact Tesla, one of Musk's flagship companies.
However, the businessman quickly responded from his own platform, X, and began by clarifying that he was never involved in the details of the controversial bill, as the president claims.
“False. They did not show me this bill even once and it was approved in the dead of night, so quickly that almost no one in Congress could even read it!”, he stated.
“Without me, Trump would have lost the elections, the Democrats would have controlled the House of Representatives, and the Republicans would have been at 51-49 in the Senate”, added the mogul, who contributed a staggering 250 million.
As if that weren't enough, Musk added: "What ingratitude!", highlighting the fracture in a relationship that had been crucial in the new Administration until recently.
Musk, who has been intensely addressing the topic in recent hours on X, even shared a video from friendlier times with the president, specifically from the day in March when Trump appeared in the White House gardens alongside the magnate and a Tesla car.
"Do you remember this?", he exclaimed to the U.S. president, referring to the comments Trump made about him back then.
The most visible fracture began recently when the billionaire launched a relentless attack on the fiscal plan, describing it as a "repugnant abomination" and criticizing the Republicans who have already supported him in the House of Representatives.
In another post, he warned that the plan "will massively increase the already giant budget deficit to 2.5 trillion dollars (!!!) and will burden U.S. citizens with a devastatingly unsustainable debt."
Trump on Musk: "He went crazy"
It was not only during the meeting with journalists in the Oval Office where Trump expressed his opinion about the businessman today, but he also turned to his own social network, Truth Social, where he justified Musk's departure from the government and implied that he was fired.
"I took away his mandate for electric vehicles that forced everyone to buy electric cars that no one wanted (and he had known for months that I was going to do it!), and he just went CRAZY," the president stated.
Trump also said that the businessman was "worn out" by the end of his management at the Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE.
“I asked him to leave”, he concluded, referring to Musk's departure from the position.
Tesla struggles in the markets
The intense clash quickly made its way to the markets this Thursday.
This Thursday, Tesla's shares plummeted by 8.64% on the New York Stock Exchange, closing at $303.35 per share.
The sharp decline was attributed to the uncertainty generated by the public conflict between Musk and Trump, as well as fears that the new tax plan could end up eliminating key incentives for the electric vehicle sector.
The law of discord
The tax bill, dubbed by the president as "The great and beautiful bill," aims to expand the tax cuts from his first term (2017-2021) and introduce new measures such as tax exemptions for tips, overtime, and purchases of vehicles manufactured in the United States.
The law was passed by a very narrow margin in the House of Representatives: 215 votes in favor and 214 against, due to Trump's intense pressure on undecided legislators.
It is currently under discussion in the Senate, with the aim of being approved before July 4th.
The controversy between Donald Trump and Elon Musk reveals much more than just a simple dispute over fiscal policy.
It reflects the fragility of strategic alliances in an environment where loyalties can fade as quickly as they are formed, as has been demonstrated.
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