Trump Threatens Elon Musk’s Companies Musk Fires Back in Social Media Clash

Photo : AFP

US President Donald Trump has threatened to stop government contracts with Elon Musk’s companies. In response, Musk said Trump should be impeached. This started a loud argument between the two on social media.

The fight began after Trump criticized Musk in the Oval Office. The two, who were once friendly, quickly exchanged sharp words on Trump’s social platform, Truth Social, and Musk’s platform, X.

Trump wrote, “The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts.”

After this, Tesla’s stock price fell sharply. It dropped 14.3 percent in one day, losing about $150 billion in value, the biggest drop in Tesla’s history.

Shortly after the stock market closed, Musk answered “Yes” to a post on X that said Trump should be impeached. However, since Trump’s party controls Congress, impeachment is unlikely.

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The tension had been building for days. Musk criticized Trump’s large tax-cut and spending bill. He said the bill would add too much to the country’s $36.2 trillion debt.

Trump finally spoke on Thursday and said he was “very disappointed” in Musk. “Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore,” Trump said.

While Trump talked to reporters, Musk posted more critical messages on X. He said, “Without me, Trump would have lost the election,” reminding that he spent nearly $300 million supporting Trump and other Republicans in last year’s election. Musk also warned that Trump’s tariffs could cause a recession later this year.

Musk runs several companies including Tesla, SpaceX (a rocket company), and Starlink (a satellite internet provider). SpaceX plays an important role in the US space program. Musk said because of Trump’s threats, he planned to stop using SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, which is the only US vehicle that can carry astronauts to the International Space Station.

Later, Musk seemed to change his mind. After a follower suggested that he and Trump calm down, Musk replied, “Good advice. Ok, we won’t decommission Dragon.”

Musk also responded to hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, agreeing that Trump and Musk should make peace.

This fight was not a surprise. Musk had already lost some influence in the government after clashing with other officials. For Trump, this is his first big argument with a top adviser since starting his second term. During his first term, Trump had many public fights with staff members.

Musk was a major Republican donor in 2024 and became one of Trump’s most visible advisers. He led efforts to reduce government workers and cut spending. Musk often visited the White House and Congress, sometimes with his young son.

Just six days before the argument, Trump and Musk appeared together in the Oval Office, praising each other and promising to work together.

This long fight could make it harder for Republicans to keep control of Congress in next year’s elections. Musk has many followers online and has helped connect Trump to tech leaders and rich donors. Musk had already said he planned to spend less on politics in the future.

After Trump’s comments, Musk asked his 220 million followers on X if it was time to start a new political party that represents most Americans.

Musk also attacked Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” calling it a “disgusting abomination” that would increase the national debt. This disagreement shows a split in the Republican Party and could hurt the bill’s chances in the Senate.

Experts say the bill could add between $2.4 trillion and $5 trillion to the $36.2 trillion debt.

Trump said Musk’s real problem was the bill’s removal of electric vehicle tax credits. He also suggested Musk was upset because he missed working at the White House.

“He’s not the first,” Trump said. “People leave my administration, then later they miss it so much some become hostile.”

Musk wrote on X, “KILL the BILL,” saying he supports cutting electric vehicle credits only if Republicans remove wasteful spending.

He also reminded people of past quotes from Trump criticizing government spending, asking, “Where is this guy today?”

Musk joined the government with bold plans to cut $2 trillion from the budget. He left last week after only cutting about half a percent of spending, causing disruption in several agencies.

Musk’s growing focus on politics has caused protests at Tesla factories in the US and Europe. This has hurt sales, as investors worry he is not paying enough attention to his companies.