American politics is witnessing one of the loudest and most toxic feuds in recent years — a conflict between President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk. Not long ago, they appeared in public like a father and son. Today, they are openly trading insults, accusations, and threats. This drama isn’t just a personal scandal — it could lead to a deep political split within the American right and affect the country’s future.
When the German Chancellor arrived at the White House for a meeting with the President, he quickly realized that the U.S. wasn’t particularly interested in Germany — or even Ukraine. The spotlight wasn’t on international affairs, but rather on a domestic conflict exploding in real time: between the most powerful and the richest man in America.
A Break with the “Adopted Son”
Donald Trump once spoke of Elon Musk as if he were almost family — calling him “the greatest entrepreneur” and even showing affection toward Musk’s five-year-old son. But things changed in a matter of days. Musk launched a direct and aggressive attack on one of Trump’s key initiatives — a massive federal budget bill intended to reshape U.S. fiscal policy. Musk denounced the bill as a “disgusting abomination” and a “pork-filled monstrosity” that threatened to drown America in debt.
“Kill the bill” — that’s how Musk titled his campaign on social media, referencing the Tarantino film. He bombarded the bill, retweeting financial graphs showing soaring national debt, and did so with the fervor of someone determined to burn bridges.
Trump Stayed Silent — But Not for Long
Initially, Trump remained silent. He didn’t mention Musk either on Truth Social or in public speeches. But when it became clear that Musk wouldn’t back down, the President responded. During the visit of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump delivered a tirade from the White House — filled with reproach, sarcasm, and wounded pride:
“I’m disappointed in Elon. I did so much for him. No one knew this bill better than he did. And he never had a problem with it before. But now, it seems he’s suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome — a condition that affects people after they leave my team.”
Musk Fires Back — Hard and Publicly
Not waiting for Trump’s speech to end, Musk began live-commenting on X (formerly Twitter):
“False. I never saw this bill before the vote! It was passed in the middle of the night so quickly that almost no one in Congress had time to read it!”
Then he added:
“Without me, Trump would’ve lost the election. So much for gratitude.”
And another jab:
“Is it time to create a new political party that actually represents the 80% of Americans in the center?”
Below the Belt Blows
But Musk’s most explosive claim came without evidence: he suggested that Trump’s name appears in the so-called “Epstein Files” — documents related to the criminal activities of Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in prison in 2019. According to Musk, this is the reason those files have never been released.
He later liked a post calling for Trump to be removed from office and replaced by Senator J.D. Vance. The feud had escalated beyond a falling-out — it became a full-blown political vendetta.
The President Strikes Back: “Cut Musk’s Subsidies”
The next day, Trump retaliated by suggesting that all government subsidies and contracts involving Elon Musk be canceled:
“I always wondered why Biden didn’t do that!” — Trump posted on Truth Social.
Musk immediately fired back, saying his company SpaceX was ready to halt operations on the Dragon spacecraft. A few hours later, however, he retracted the threat.
Like a Restaurant Fight You Can’t Ignore
One CNN commentator compared the public meltdown to a couple having a bitter fight in a restaurant — so loud and awkward that everyone wants to look away. And indeed, watching the Trump–Musk alliance unravel has been both uncomfortable and alarming. Their partnership once seemed solid: Musk backed Trump, promoted his initiatives, and poured millions into his campaign.
Now, according to media analyst Brian Stelter, Musk is clearly disillusioned:
“It’s like he bought a product — and now he’s unhappy with the quality.”
A Political Earthquake
This isn’t just a clash of egos. It’s a potential crisis for the entire conservative movement in the U.S. Republican candidates and senators preparing for the 2026 elections may have to choose between Trump’s influence and Musk’s money and tech power. Or, as one observer put it: Choose your fighter.
So far, Trump seems to have the upper hand. Tesla shares fell 14% during his White House speech. But that can change — the U.S. is currently experiencing a political “whiplash,” a kind of societal concussion.
A Political War — or Just the Beginning?
Musk has long avoided strict partisan alignment. In 2014, he said he was “half Democrat, half Republican,” socially liberal and fiscally conservative. He donated to both parties and rarely made bold political statements.
That changed only in recent years. Musk publicly endorsed Trump after the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. Since then, the billionaire became one of the president’s top donors.
Now he’s renounced Trump. And more than that — he’s declared open war on the entire MAGA movement he once supported.
The feud between Donald Trump and Elon Musk isn’t just a personal drama between two narcissists. It’s a potential turning point for American politics. Their conflict could trigger an internal crisis within the right wing, affect election dynamics, reshape the balance of power in Congress, and even influence White House foreign policy.
As Der Spiegel pointed out, the German Chancellor made a wise choice by not attempting to forge any personal alliance during his visit. As Musk’s experience shows, friendship with Trump can end not just painfully — but explosively.
This article was prepared based on materials published by Der Spiegel. The author does not claim authorship of the original text but presents their interpretation of the content for informational purposes.
The original article can be found at the following link: Der Spiegel.
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