Titans Clash: Inside the Growing Feud Between Trump and Musk

(The Post News)– What happens when the richest person on Earth and the most powerful politician in America go to war? The world is finding out, and the fallout is messy, public, and potentially historic.

Former allies Donald Trump and Elon Musk, each armed with massive platforms and even bigger egos, have turned on one another in a spectacular, high-stakes feud that began as a policy disagreement but has since spiralled into a deeply personal and politically dangerous fight.

The Bill That Broke the Bond

It all started with Trump’s signature legislation dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill, which Musk lambasted as a fiscal nightmare. On his platform, X (formerly Twitter), Musk labelled it a “disgusting abomination”, warning that it would drive up the national debt. Trump, never one to let criticism slide, retaliated swiftly.

“The easiest way to save money in our budget, billions and billions of dollars, is to terminate Elon’s governmental subsidies and contracts,” Trump posted menacingly on Truth Social. That threat directly targeted the federal support underpinning SpaceX, especially its role in ferrying astronauts and supplies to the International Space Station. Investors reacted immediately: Tesla shares plunged by 14%.

Impeachment Calls and Explosive Accusations

Musk fired back hard, calling for Trump’s impeachment and challenging him to follow through on the funding threats. He even threatened to decommission SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, a move that could disrupt U.S. space operations. Hours later, Musk walked that back with a cryptic post: “Good advice. Ok, we won’t decommission Dragon.”

Then came the nuclear option. Musk hinted without evidence that Trump’s name might appear in unreleased Jeffrey Epstein files. The allegation sent shockwaves through Washington. The White House response was tepid at best, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt chalking it up to Musk being frustrated over not getting his way. Still, the message was clear: Musk wasn’t backing down.

A Bitter Breakup

Trump appeared to soften by day’s end, avoiding direct mention of Musk at a public event and issuing a half-hearted Truth Social post: “I don’t mind turning against him, but I wish he had quit government service months ago.” He then pivoted to promoting his tax and spending plan.

But any real reconciliation seems unlikely. The relationship, once robust enough to land Musk a short-lived cabinet-like role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), now lies in ruins. That department made headlines for slashing budgets and cutting agencies, moves that made Musk both influential and unpopular.

Despite past tensions, Musk had remained close to Trump through internal spats, political headwinds, and declining popularity. Their parting was surprisingly cordial when Musk’s 130-day appointment ended last week, complete with a golden ceremonial key to the White House. Now, it seems the key is useless and the locks have been changed.

Zero-Sum Politics

The stakes are immense. Musk is reportedly considering funding insurgent challengers in Republican primaries, and his massive platform gives him potent rhetorical firepower. Trump, meanwhile, could escalate by targeting Musk’s allies in government or reopening investigations into his business practices.

Republicans in Congress now face pressure from both sides. Musk’s attacks may embolden critics of the bill, while Trump’s influence remains dominant in much of the GOP.

Democrats, for their part, are watching from the sidelines. Few are eager to embrace Musk, but many are quietly enjoying the infighting. As Democratic strategist Liam Kerr put it, “It’s a zero-sum game. Anything he does that moves more toward Democrats hurts Republicans.”

What Now?

Neither man is known for backing down. Their feud has already triggered stock market tremors, shaken political alliances, and cast a shadow over upcoming legislation. And with Trump still in office for 3.5 years and Musk reminding everyone he’ll “be around for 40-plus”, this is likely only the beginning.

The megaphones are on, the gloves are off, and there’s no sign this clash of titans will end.