A public feud between U.S. President Donald Trump and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has intensified over a controversial tax cut bill, dubbed the "Big and Beautiful" legislation, which is nearing a Senate vote. The dispute, which erupted during Trump’s meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House on Thursday, has escalated into a bitter exchange of accusations, with both sides trading barbs on social media.
During the televised meeting, Trump expressed disappointment with Musk, who recently resigned from the administration, for opposing the tax cut bill. Trump claimed he had significantly supported Musk in the past and dismissed the billionaire’s role in his electoral success, stating, “I would have won Pennsylvania regardless of Elon.” He further criticized Musk for opposing the bill after leaving his cabinet, alleging that Musk was familiar with its contents but only voiced objections post-resignation.
Musk, watching the broadcast, fired back on his social media platform X, accusing Trump of “ingratitude” and claiming his efforts were crucial to Republican victories in the 2024 election. “Without my support, the Democrats would control the House, and the Republican Senate majority would be 51-49,” Musk posted. He also denied having seen the bill, noting it was rushed through Congress late at night.
The tax cut bill, which Musk argues will balloon the federal deficit, has been a point of contention for days. Earlier this week, Musk labeled the legislation “disgusting” and urged the public to contact lawmakers to vote against it, even sharing a meme referencing the film Kill Bill to underscore his call to “kill the bill.”
The conflict escalated further when Trump, posting on his platform Truth Social, suggested that Musk’s opposition stemmed from the bill’s impact on electric vehicle tax credits, which could affect Musk’s company, Tesla. Trump threatened to cancel federal contracts with Musk’s companies, stating, “The easiest way to save the budget is to terminate Musk’s government subsidies and contracts.” Musk responded by accusing Trump of lying and made a provocative claim, alleging that Trump’s name appears on the undisclosed list tied to the late Jeffrey Epstein, the financier accused of trafficking minors and providing illicit services to prominent figures.
Musk further escalated the feud by threatening to retire SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, which his company developed and supplies to the U.S. government for space missions. The public spat has had immediate financial repercussions, with Tesla’s stock plummeting 14.3% on Thursday, wiping out approximately $150 billion in market value.
The clash marks a sharp deterioration in the relationship between Trump and Musk, who was a vocal supporter of Trump during the 2024 election. As the Senate prepares to vote on the tax cut bill, the public dispute between these two high-profile figures shows no signs of abating, with both sides digging in and trading increasingly personal attacks.