A high-profile clash between President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk exploded across social media this week, drawing millions of viewers into a digital slugfest that left both camps reeling. The dispute, which began over Trump’s controversial spending bill, quickly escalated as Musk used his X platform to launch pointed attacks, at one point referencing the still-unreleased Epstein files.
Musk, once a vocal supporter of Trump, reversed course with a barrage of critical posts. He called Trump’s budget policy a “disgusting abomination” and resurrected old Trump tweets on government spending to underscore his criticism Trump fired back during a White House press conference, suggesting Musk’s opposition stemmed from the removal of electric vehicle subsidies and questioning the future of their relationship.
The feud intensified when Musk briefly posted—and then deleted—a tweet implying Trump was named in the Epstein files, documents related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged criminal network Musk’s subsequent deletion of the tweet fueled further speculation and debate online, but no official Epstein files implicating Trump have been released to the public.
As the fallout continues, Tesla’s stock price has experienced volatility, and both men’s social media followings remain highly engaged. The feud marks a dramatic rupture in a once-close alliance, now playing out in real time across X and Truth Social, with each side leveraging their digital platforms to sway public opinion.
