Trump vs. Musk: White House Feud, Contract Threats & Billionaire Fallout
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Elon Musk has called Trump aide Sergio Gor a “snake” after reports that Gor, Trump’s personnel director, had blocked Musk ally Jared Isaacman’s NASA nomination and delayed his own security clearance
This dispute traces back to Musk’s criticism of Trump’s legislative agenda, especially the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which Musk called a “disgusting abomination.” Musk also claimed Trump owed his 2024 victory to Musk’s support and hinted at Trump’s name being in the “Epstein files”—a claim later deleted
⚔️ Escalation & Reactions
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Trump retaliated via Truth Social, threatening to cancel government contracts and subsidies for Musk’s companies and reportedly considering using the Defense Production Act to seize SpaceX
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Musk responded on X, announcing the decommissioning of SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft in response to contract threats.
📉 Market & Political Fallout
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Tesla shares plunged ~14–15% in a single day, wiping out over $150 billion in market value amid the public fallout
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Tesla investors and Republicans are uneasy; several voices within the GOP have urged the two to reconcile to avoid broader political and economic fallout
🎯 Broader Context
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Their relationship began as a political alliance: Musk donated nearly $300 million to Trump’s 2024 campaign, joined the White House as head of the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), and initially shaped key policy decisions
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Tensions grew over budget cuts, trade tariffs, and Musk’s public pushback, which culminated in mutual recriminations and the meltdown of their “bromance”
🔮 What Happens Next?
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The White House is reviewing Musk’s government contracts, especially for SpaceX and Tesla, flagging potential threats to these deals Public opinion and investor confidence are being tested: a recent AP-NORC poll suggests a drop in Musk’s popularity among Republicans amid the conflict
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Some pundits believe the feud could ultimately derail policy priorities and delay government planning, unless the two leaders de-escalate
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why are Donald Trump and Elon Musk feuding?
The dispute began after Elon Musk criticized Trump’s legislative agenda and accused his administration of political sabotage. Musk also publicly claimed credit for Trump’s 2024 win and made controversial remarks about Trump’s alleged Epstein ties—later deleted.
2. What triggered the most recent escalation?
Musk accused Trump aide Sergio Gor of sabotaging his team, including blocking Jared Isaacman’s NASA nomination. He called Gor a “snake,” prompting Trump to retaliate by threatening SpaceX contracts and possibly seizing assets under the Defense Production Act.
3. How has Trump responded?
Trump has publicly threatened to cancel federal contracts and subsidies to Musk-owned companies (SpaceX and Tesla). He’s reportedly reviewing ways to reduce or eliminate Musk’s government influence and resources.
4. What was Musk’s reaction?
Musk decommissioned SpaceX’s Dragon capsule program and lashed out on X (formerly Twitter), declaring that his support for Trump was over. He also threatened to cut back on future cooperation with the U.S. government.
5. Is this affecting Tesla or SpaceX?
Yes. Tesla’s stock dropped over 14% in a single day, erasing more than $150 billion in market value. Investors are concerned about federal retaliation and Musk’s unpredictable public behavior.
6. How are Republicans reacting?
Many Republicans are alarmed. While Musk was once seen as a GOP tech ally, his feud with Trump has cooled enthusiasm. Some party leaders are pushing for reconciliation to avoid derailing major tech and infrastructure initiatives.
7. What’s the history between Trump and Musk?
Initially allies, Musk donated ~$300 million to Trump’s 2024 campaign and even briefly joined the administration as “Head of Government Efficiency.” Their relationship soured over policy differences, budget disputes, and personal slights.
8. Could this impact U.S. space and energy policy?
Potentially. Musk’s companies are critical to U.S. defense, energy, and space programs. Any disruption to their federal partnerships could delay missions and shift national strategy in aerospace and EV infrastructure.
9. Is reconciliation possible?
It’s unclear. Both figures are known for doubling down rather than backing off. However, economic pressure and political fallout might eventually push them toward a truce.
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