Political or Financial Power: How the Trump-Musk Breakup Split Widespread Controversy

What once began as a golden alliance between power and money recently ended with one decisive sentence: “It's completely over.”

With that statement, US President Donald Trump closed the door on American billionaire Elon Musk, after their dispute escalated from political criticism to a public feud.

In a recent television interview, Trump warned Musk of serious consequences if he decided to fund his Democratic opponents at the mid-term elections in 2026.

Trump didn't specify what those consequences would be, but hinted at withdrawing federal support from Musk’s companies, saying, “The easiest way to save billions of dollars is to terminate Musk’s Government Subsidies and Contracts.”

In turn, Musk didn't remain silent about these statements. He attacked Trump's policies, predicted an economic recession because of them, and publicly expressed the idea of forming a third party.

In addition, Musk described Trump's policy proposals as disgusting, called him ungrateful, questioned his mental fitness for office, and called for his impeachment.

Dramatic Breakdown

US billionaire Elon Musk has publicly apologized to US President Donald Trump for posting inflammatory comments on social media over the past week, which led to a dramatic breakdown in their relationship.

He wrote on his X platform: “I regret some of my posts about President Trump last week. They went too far.”

Six months before their now-heated feud, Trump was asked if Musk could ever become president. He responded with a firm no, citing the United States' birthright.

Trump's answer seemed to preempt their current dispute. The debate between the two men deviated when Musk raised the idea of a third party and changing the rules of the race for the White House.

Musk claimed that 80% of American voters are centrist and do not favor either of the two major parties (Republican or Democratic). This poll, which later emerged, was published on his X platform and polled more than 3.5 million Americans.

Analysts considered Musk's proposal of a third party inseparable from his dream of becoming President of America, noting that he is now one of the most prominent political financiers in the country.

It is noteworthy that Musk funded a significant portion of Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, approximately $288 million.

Later, Trump appointed Musk as the government official responsible for reducing the size of the federal workforce and cutting government spending.

While he has achieved some success in his mission, Musk was dismayed by Trump's recent decision to increase spending through his controversial bill.

Subsequently, Musk left the White House at the end of May, ending a turbulent 130-day tenure on Trump's team, just days after saying he was disappointed with the new budget.

Severe Accusations

However, the escalating feud between Trump and Musk came to light last week when the two men began trading insults on social media.

On June 3, Musk denounced Trump's budget bill, describing it as a disgusting, abhorrent act that would bankrupt the United States.

Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) proposes extensive tax cuts that could add roughly $3 trillion to the US national debt, according to forecasters.

It's worth noting that lawmakers opposed to Trump's sweeping tax and spending cuts had urged Musk to fund appeals against Republicans who would vote for the bill.

In response, Trump said on June 7 that his relationship with Musk was over and threatened that there would be severe consequences if Musk funded any appeals against his bill.

In the same context, Musk made a surprising accusation that Trump was somehow involved in the Jeffrey Epstein sex scandal.

Epstein was imprisoned as part of the investigation after the scandal of his oversight of an island devoted to prostitution and the exploitation of minors was exposed. 

Trump was among the most prominent names mentioned in the investigations, although he had not previously been charged.

Musk also took credit for Trump's rise to the US presidency, believing he would have lost the 2024 election without his support, describing Trump as ungrateful.

Musk's actions did not stop at politics. He threatened to halt the operation of his company SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, which transports astronauts to and from the International Space Station in cooperation with NASA.

For his part, Trump responded on his Truth Social platform with strongly worded statements, saying that “the easiest way to save money to the tune of billions and billions is to terminate Musk’s Government Subsidies and Contracts.”

The Washington Post revealed that Musk's business empire relies heavily on government funding, both through regulatory approvals in the auto sector and massive contracts in the space and defense sectors, noting that his companies have received at least $38 billion in federal funds.

Following this escalation, Trump associates demanded an investigation into Musk's immigration status and his alleged drug use history, as well as the suspension of his high-level security clearance linked to sensitive contracts with US security agencies.

Escalating Disputes

Although the personal relationship between Trump and Musk has remained positive in public, The Times quoted sources as saying that Trump has grown frustrated with his old friend, both over his backtracking on his $2 trillion spending cuts pledge and his repeated public criticisms. 

The newspaper reported that the escalating disagreements over Trump's economic policy are likely to expand to more sensitive issues, such as immigration, artificial intelligence (AI), and supply chains. 

Musk is expected to become an effective opponent within the Republican circle, especially given concerns about his influence over campaign finance.

Musk's recent angry statements prompted a number of Republicans to express concern about the bill before the Senate, forcing House Speaker Mike Johnson to schedule a closed-door meeting to respond to these criticisms.

Over the past week, some Republicans have been trying to win back Musk, realizing that he possesses enormous financial and political power that is difficult to replace, managing an estimated $400 billion in wealth.

The Times added that the upcoming disagreements could be more severe, with immigration at the forefront, as Musk supports special pathways to attract talented people to the U.S., in conflict with MAGA's policies and some of the Trump administration's recent decisions regarding universities and higher education.

It also pointed to the disagreement between Musk and Vice President J.D. Vance regarding AI, with Musk believing in the need for regulation, while Vance believes safety is not a priority in this area.

Regarding supply chains, the newspaper noted that Trump's continued imposition of tariffs could reinforce Musk's concerns, especially if it causes broader trade disruptions.

Observers believe that the dispute between Trump and Musk could open the door to an unprecedented power struggle between two poles representing the pinnacle of political and economic power in the U.S.

They noted that this confrontation, if repeated, could lead to a new split within the ranks of the American right and a reshuffle within the Republican Party, especially given Musk's widespread popularity.

They also explained that there are concerns that Musk's digital enterprises could become political tools for pressure or sabotage, or that Trump could use his power to besiege vital sectors of the American digital and space economy.

In turn, political researcher Mustafa Yousef explained to Al-Estiklal that “the recent dispute between Trump and Musk was merely a manifestation of a deeper struggle between money and power, and that what we are seeing today may one day be recorded as one of the final wedges driven into the coffin of the American empire.”

“Trump is a pragmatist who seeks self-interest. If he sees a benefit in restoring his relationship with Musk, he will not hesitate. We have seen similar cases, such as Marco Rubio, who went from a bitter rivalry with Trump to the position of Secretary of State in his second administration,” he added.

Regarding the possibility of Musk establishing a third party in the coming period, Mr. Yousef said: “The idea of a third party in the U.S. is a fantasy. Whoever wants to waste time and money can try. The American party system is dual, and the two major parties control all aspects of politics.”