The implosion of a powerful political alliance: Trump and Musk in their own words
By JONATHAN J COOPER Associated Press Last Friday President Donald Trump heaped praise on Elon Musk as the tech billionaire prepared to leave his unorthodox White House job Less than a week later their potent political alliance met a dramatic end Thursday when the men attacked each other with blistering epithets Trump threatened to go after Musk s business interests Musk called for Trump s impeachment Here s a look at the implosion of their relationship in their own words The goodbye At present it s about a man named Elon And he s one of the greatest business leaders and innovators the world has ever produced He stepped forward to put his very great talents into the organization of our nation and we appreciate it Just want to say that Elon has worked tirelessly helping lead the bulk sweeping and consequential cabinet modification venture in generations Trump May Oval Office remarks Trump invited cameras into the Oval Office last week to bid farewell to Musk who disclosed he was stepping away from his regime work to focus on his businesses Trump spoke effusively of Musk and his work with the Department of Authorities Efficiency for nearly minutes straight President Donald Trump attends a meeting with the Fraternal Order of Police in the State Dinning Room of the White House Thursday June in Washington AP Photo Alex Brandon I ll continue to be visiting here and be a friend and adviser to the president Musk mentioned He marveled at the gold-tinged decorations Trump placed around the Oval Office The oval office definitively has the majesty that it deserves thanks to the president he stated The budget dispute I m sorry but I just can t stand it anymore This massive outrageous pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination Shame on those who voted for it you know you did wrong You know it Musk Tuesday post on X Days after their Oval Office meeting Musk escalated his previously restrained criticism of Trump s big beautiful budget bill the president s top congressional priority Still he kept his critique focused on their program disagreement He did not go after Trump by name even as he called on Republican lawmakers to vote down the bill and threatened political retribution against those who took Trump s side Elon Musk attends news conference with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House Friday May in Washington AP Photo Evan Vucci In November next year we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people Musk wrote on X Uncharacteristically for a man who rarely lets a snub go unanswered Trump did not respond White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Musk s views on the bill were not a surprise to Trump and his social media posting doesn t change the president s opinion Musk continued Wednesday approvingly sharing social media posts and memes that criticized the budget s price tag and deficit impacts though still directing his ire at Congress The bitter breakup Elon and I had a great relationship I don t know if we will anymore Trump Thursday Oval Office meeting with the German chancellor Trump mentioned he was very disappointed in Elon and was surprised by his benefactor s criticism The war of words escalated rapidly from there It all played out on their respective social media platforms with Musk posting on X and Trump on Truth Social Musk dismissed Trump s criticism Whatever he wrote He shared old Trump social media posts urging lawmakers to oppose deficit spending and increasing the debt ceiling Related Articles Howie Carr Jailhouse letter speaks volumes on illegal immigration Harvard files legal challenge over Trump s ban on foreign students Overseas admitted students wait Musk threatens to decommission a key space station link for NASA Delight from supporters after judge grants bond to Milford teen arrested by ICE Goodbye Mr Nice Guy Investors dump Tesla on bet Trump may lash out at Musk through his car company Without me Trump would have lost the polling Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be - in the Senate Musk posted a reference to Musk s record political spending last year which topped million Such ingratitude he added Trump explained Musk had worn out his welcome at the White House and was mad that Trump was changing electric bus policies in techniques that would financially harm Musk-led Tesla Elon was wearing thin I required him to leave I took away his EV Mandate that forced everyone to buy Electric Cars that nobody else sought that he knew for months I was going to do and he just went CRAZY Trump wrote He added The easiest way to save money in our Budget Billions and Billions of Dollars is to terminate Elon s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts I was consistently surprised that Biden didn t do it Musk goes nuclear Time to drop the really big bomb Trump is in the Epstein files That is the real reason they have not been made constituents Have a nice day DJT Musk Thursday X post In a series of posts he shined a spotlight on ties between Trump and Jeffrey Epstein the financier who killed himself while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges Particular loud voices in Trump s Make America Great Again movement claim Epstein s suicide was staged by powerful figures including prominent Democrats who feared Epstein would expose their involvement in trafficking Trump s own FBI leaders have dismissed such speculation and there s no evidence supporting it Later when an X user suggested Trump be impeached and replaced by Vice President JD Vance Musk agreed Yes he wrote I don t mind Elon turning against me but he should have done so months ago Trump wrote He went on to promote his budget bill
