Trump and Musk: A Public Split in Their Bromance

The camaraderie between U.S. President Donald Trump and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has reportedly soured.

A dramatic exchange on social media Thursday highlighted the growing rift between the two prominent figures, who were previously seen as close allies.

Here’s a timeline outlining the evolution of their relationship:

Musk publicly voiced his support for Trump after an assassination attempt targeted the president during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

On the social media platform X, Musk wrote: “I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery.”

In early October, Musk attended a Trump rally in Pennsylvania, marking the site of the president’s near-fatal attack.

Donning a cap emblazoned with the “Make America Great Again” slogan, Musk declared Trump the only candidate capable of “preserving democracy in America.”

This public display of support further solidified Musk’s connection to Trump’s political resurgence.

Following Trump’s re-election, Musk was appointed to lead DOGE in conjunction with former GOP presidential contender Vivek Ramaswamy, under an executive order aimed at reducing federal spending and bureaucracy.

In a statement, Trump asserted, “Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.”

Ramaswamy later vacated his position to pursue elected office.

Maye Musk, Elon’s mother, later remarked that the two seemed to be simply enjoying each other’s company.

Shortly after Trump’s election victory, he attended a SpaceX Starship launch in Texas, appearing alongside Musk.

During Trump’s inauguration, Musk received high praise from the president, who exclaimed, “We have a new star. A star is born. Elon!”

Musk participated in CEO calls organized by Trump with leaders from Amazon, Google, Meta, and others.

Musk took charge of imposing aggressive cost-cutting measures at government agencies. DOGE initiated requirements for employees to return to the office and eliminated several remote-work programs.

However, Musk’s team faced criticism for overreaching into agencies, including the U.S. Institute of Peace.

In early March, Trump reassured Cabinet members that they were in charge of their respective agencies, not Musk. Following this meeting, Musk described it as “very productive” on social media.

Trump utilized the White House lawn as a platform for showcasing Tesla vehicles while defending Musk amidst a global backlash against the electric vehicle maker.

“He’s built this great company, and he shouldn’t be penalized because he’s a patriot,” Trump stated, defending Musk.

The president described Tesla vehicles as “beautiful” and expressed interest in purchasing one.

Musk announced his intention to “significantly” decrease his involvement in DOGE in the following weeks.

At the same time, reports surfaced suggesting Musk was becoming distracted and overextended, raising concerns for Tesla and SpaceX investors.

When Tesla reported its first-quarter earnings in April, which fell short of expectations, shares had already plummeted more than 40% year-to-date.

In a CBS News interview, Musk publicly criticized Trump’s key tax and spending legislation, stating it undermined efforts to cut government waste.

“I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, which increases the budget deficit rather than reduces it and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing,” he remarked.

Trump later commented that he was dissatisfied with certain parts of the bill, “but I’m thrilled by other aspects of it. That’s how they go.”

Just a day after expressing his dissent regarding Trump’s bill, Musk departed from the White House, thanking Trump for the opportunity to manage DOGE.

Trump hosted a farewell event for Musk, recognizing his contributions but indicating that Musk’s departure didn’t mean a complete exit, promising he would return to the White House periodically, as DOGE was considered his “baby.”

In a pointed critique, Musk condemned Trump’s spending bill as a “disgusting abomination” that would exacerbate federal budget deficits, admonishing those who supported it: “Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it,” he declared on X.

This critique ignited a fierce online dispute between Trump and Musk, with both trading sharp remarks over several hours.

Trump threatened to withdraw billions in government contracts from Musk’s companies, while Musk retorted that Trump could not have secured the election without him.

“Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore,” Trump commented.