The little boat of friendship capsizes easily: a deep review of the entire storyline of Trump and Musk's "love-hate" relationship

Author: BitpushNews

Elon Musk and Donald Trump, the once high-profile "lovebirds" of the political and business world, are now experiencing a dramatic split.

On June 4, local time, Musk publicly criticized a key bill pushed by the Trump administration on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter), calling it a "disgusting monstrosity." The world's richest man wrote, "Sorry, I just can't take it anymore. This massive, ridiculous, and filled-with-pork congressional bill is simply a disgusting monstrosity!" He even urged lawmakers to "kill the bill."

The next day, on June 5, Musk sent out several tweets openly tearing into Trump and revealed shocking news: "Trump is in Epstein's files."

He also boldly expressed his support for Trump's impeachment:

It's worth noting that less than a year ago, Musk was on stage at a Trump campaign rally wearing a prominent black "MAGA" hat, joking that he was "dark MAGA"; Trump had once regarded this tech billionaire as an ally and "one of his own" on the road to reclaiming the White House. In just a few months, the two went from a close handshake to open confrontation, leaving one to lament how quickly "the friendship boat" can capsize.

As the most prominent stars in their respective fields, the relationship between Trump and Musk has always been dramatic. From politics to business, they have sometimes admired each other and at other times clashed.

On the eve of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Musk began to express support for Trump, and their interactions became a focal point of public attention. One is a former president vowing to make a comeback, while the other is the world's richest man spanning electric vehicles, aerospace, and social media. These two bold and unconventional figures quickly drew closer, only to drift apart amid the tug-of-war over power and interests.

As Axios noted, both strongmen "have a side of arrogance in their personalities, believing they are not bound by conventional rules." Their alliance once invigorated the Republican Party's electoral prospects, but seasoned observers have doubted how long this political "honeymoon" could last, and recent developments seem to confirm those doubts.

Key Timeline Overview

• September 28, 2023: Musk appeared at the U.S.-Mexico border, live-streaming the immigration situation in Eagle Pass, Texas, calling for the U.S. to "greatly expand legal immigration and expedite approvals on one hand, while strictly blocking illegal entry on the other." Musk expressed his support for Trump's immigration stance and criticized the Biden administration's ineffective border policies.
• May 24, 2024: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced his presidential campaign during a Twitter Spaces live stream hosted by Musk, but the event was briefly interrupted due to technical difficulties. Musk had previously leaned towards supporting DeSantis in challenging Trump, but DeSantis's campaign momentum subsequently waned.
• July 13, 2024: Trump faced a suspected assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania (gunfire caused chaos). Minutes later, Musk publicly voiced his support for Trump's re-election on X for the first time. This marked Musk's official alignment with Trump's camp.
• August 12, 2024: Musk hosted a live dialogue with Trump on the X platform, described by the media as "an extended campaign speech." During the live stream, Musk suggested that if Trump won, a "Government Efficiency Committee" should be established, led by him, to cut bureaucratic waste. Trump jokingly called it a "good idea." A week later, Musk posted, "I am willing to serve."
• October 5, 2024 (or late October): Musk made his first appearance at a Trump campaign rally. He donned a black "MAGA" hat and told cheering supporters, "As you can see, I am not just MAGA; I am dark MAGA." Musk's high-profile embrace of this far-right subculture sparked public outcry.
• October 19, 2024: Musk announced that through his "American PAC," he would distribute "daily prizes of $1 million" to swing state voters, provided they signed a petition supporting free speech and gun rights. This innovative move was seen as Musk using his wealth to influence voters and support Trump through unconventional means.
• November 6, 2024: U.S. Election Day. Trump was predicted by the media to win the election that evening, becoming the "president-elect." Musk was invited to Mar-a-Lago to witness the victory moment with Trump.
• November 12, 2024: Trump announced the establishment of the "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE), to be co-led by Musk and Republican rising star Vivek Ramaswamy, as an independent advisory body to cut government spending and streamline bureaucracy. Musk thus gained an unprecedented informal position of power in the new government.
• February 20, 2025: Musk made a high-profile appearance at the conservative annual conference CPAC as an advisor to Trump and head of DOGE. He took the stage holding a red chainsaw, calling it the "chainsaw for cutting bureaucracy," and vowed to slash government spending, eliciting enthusiastic cheers from the audience. This act symbolized the climax of his collaboration with Trump in promoting the so-called "government slimming" agenda.
• April 6, 2025: Reports emerged that Musk had privately urged Trump multiple times to abandon a new round of trade tariffs against allied countries, but to no avail. Trump's insistence on raising tariffs caused turmoil in the financial markets, with the Dow plunging and trillions in global market value evaporating, also impacting Musk's personal wealth. Observers pointed out that tensions were emerging between Trump and Musk, as their interests were not always aligned.
• May 30, 2025: Musk attended a farewell press conference with Trump at the White House. The "Trump-Musk honeymoon" appeared to end on a high note: Trump publicly praised Musk for his "revolutionary contributions to the country," calling him a "patriot" and "my friend"; Musk thanked the president, stating he was "retiring after achieving success." However, on the same day he left office, Musk privately expressed reservations about a key bill pushed by Trump.
• June 3, 2025: Just days after leaving government, Musk publicly criticized Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" (a large tax cut and spending bill) on X. "Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did the wrong thing!" Musk fumed in a post. He accused the bill of being stuffed with unnecessary spending, which would lead to soaring fiscal deficits, and demanded Congress kill the bill. Musk's past support for Trump had now turned into open confrontation.
• June 5, 2025: When asked by reporters about Musk's statements in the Oval Office, Trump rarely showed displeasure, stating he was "very disappointed" in Musk. "You see, Elon and I used to have a great relationship," Trump said, "but now I'm not sure if we can be good again… He used to praise me, but now he hasn't directly attacked me—maybe that's next. But I'm really disappointed; I helped him a lot." Trump hinted that Musk's opposition to the bill was due to its plan to eliminate electric vehicle subsidies, harming Tesla's interests. He also mocked Musk for "missing me after leaving my team," saying many former officials would "love and then hate" him—indicating the relationship between Trump and Musk had reached a freezing point.

From Estrangement to Alliance: Musk's Shift to Right-Wing Politics

Musk's interactions with Trump were not smooth sailing before the second half of 2023. As early as Trump's first campaign and presidency, Musk had a complex attitude towards the real estate mogul-turned-president: he briefly accepted an invitation to serve as an economic advisor to Trump in 2017 but left in anger over Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement. After that, they publicly contradicted each other on several issues. Even in July 2022, Trump mocked Musk as a "bull artist" at a rally—at that time, Musk had expressed a preference for supporting Florida Governor DeSantis, believing Trump should "retire after achieving success," which displeased Trump.

However, starting in 2023, Musk's political trajectory underwent a noticeable change. That year, Musk gradually shifted from the liberal camp to a conservative stance. His criticisms of the Democratic government became increasingly sharp, frequently attacking President Biden and his policies on social media and in public. For example, Musk mocked Biden, saying, "The real president is the teleprompter," and "If someone accidentally knocks over the teleprompter, it would be like a scene from 'Anchorman'." This metaphor not only mocked Biden's public blunders but also implied that he was merely a puppet controlled by staff in Musk's eyes. Musk also accused the Biden administration of allowing inflation to spiral out of control, warning that "America is heading down a Venezuela-like path." He openly stated that he had "overwhelmingly supported the Democratic Party" but was increasingly disappointed, believing its policies were hijacked by "radical leftist ideas."

Musk's most direct dissatisfaction with the Biden administration manifested in immigration, free speech, and industrial policies. In September 2023, Musk personally visited the U.S.-Mexico border to inspect the immigration situation. He appeared in a cowboy hat in the Texas border town of Eagle Pass, live-streaming scenes of groups of immigrants wading across the river. Musk, identifying as a descendant of immigrants, claimed to be "extremely pro-immigrant," but he advocated for the U.S. to "greatly increase the number of legal immigrants and expedite approvals for hardworking and honest people to come to America, while also preventing those who enter illegally."

This "two-pronged" approach aligned with Trump's immigration policy direction: Trump has consistently cracked down on illegal immigration while claiming to welcome "merit-based" legal immigration. Musk seized the opportunity to harshly criticize the Biden administration's ineffective border control, stating that the current influx of many illegal immigrants was overwhelming border communities. He introduced Texas Republican Congressman Tony Gonzalez during the live stream, who complained that border residents "feel abandoned." Musk's strong stance on immigration won applause from Republicans, signaling his increasing alignment with Trump's camp.

At the same time, as the new owner of the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Musk positioned himself as a "free speech" warrior, vehemently criticizing the actions of the previous management team that had banned Trump's account. Shortly after acquiring Twitter in October 2022, Musk unbanned Trump's account, which had been suspended for inciting the Capitol riot, and publicly invited Trump to return. Although Trump had not yet left his own "Truth Social" platform at that time, Musk's move won praise among conservatives, seen as a strong counter to "Big Tech's censorship of conservative voices." Musk also led the exposure of the so-called "Twitter Files," revealing the Biden administration's behind-the-scenes requests for the platform to suppress sensitive content, corroborating Trump's camp's accusations of "deep state" censorship. These actions positioned Musk as a standard-bearer for the right-wing free speech agenda in the U.S.

As reported by The New York Times, since Musk publicly took sides, users on the X platform have been "more frequently pushed content from Musk himself and other right-wing accounts." Musk not only shaped his conservative image but also inadvertently boosted Trump's visibility.

However, until mid-2023, Musk had not formally embraced Trump. At that time, DeSantis, the main challenger to Trump within the Republican Party, was receiving significant attention, and Musk had shown interest in this younger politician. In May 2023, DeSantis chose to announce his candidacy during a Twitter Spaces audio live stream hosted by Musk. However, the live stream was plagued by technical difficulties, with intermittent sound and chaos, turning DeSantis's high-profile debut into a laughingstock. Although Musk ended the event awkwardly, his posture of teaming up with DeSantis to "attack" Trump had already raised Trump's vigilance. Trump privately mocked Musk, saying, "He says he has never voted for a Republican, yet tells me he voted for me; what a liar." During the summer of 2023, DeSantis's campaign momentum continued to decline.

Musk gradually realized that the grassroots support of the Republican base still closely followed Trump. As astute as he is, he began to reassess his political bets for the 2024 election.

Re-emerging Together: From "Pro-Trump" to Dark MAGA

As 2024 entered its second half, the campaign activities for the U.S. election became increasingly intense. Despite being embroiled in legal troubles, Trump remained far ahead within the Republican Party. At this time, Musk made a surprising yet logical decision: to fully support Trump's comeback campaign. The catalyst was a sudden event—on July 13, 2024, Trump faced a security emergency at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and was hurriedly escorted off the stage by Secret Service agents. Reports indicated that gunfire was heard, causing panic, although no casualties occurred. This incident stirred Trump's supporters and also touched Musk.

On the same day, Musk posted on X, officially voicing his support for Trump's presidential campaign. From that moment on, this unconventional entrepreneur and this defiant politician began to fight side by side.

Musk's embrace of Trump's camp was multifaceted. First, financially, he generously provided funding to support Trump's comeback campaign. According to data from the Federal Election Commission, Musk donated a staggering $238.5 million through his own "American PAC" super political action committee to groups supporting Trump. This astronomical figure made him the largest donor in the Republican camp for the 2024 election cycle.

Musk's donations included a creative initiative: he launched an online petition calling for voters to sign in support of the First Amendment (free speech) and the Second Amendment (gun rights), promising to give away $1 million daily to signers in swing states. This unprecedented "money-for-votes" campaign attracted significant attention. Critics questioned whether this amounted to buying votes, but for conservative voters feeling constrained by speech restrictions and gun limitations, this lottery felt more like a celebration. As commentators noted, Musk's method of using his wealth and influence to rally votes for Trump "broke the norms of American politics."

On the campaign platform, Musk also played a unique role. In August 2024, he invited Trump to appear on the X platform for an online live dialogue.

This was Trump's first return to a mainstream social media platform to speak publicly after being "banned" by major social media. Previously, Trump could only release messages through his own Truth Social platform, and Musk's invitation allowed him to reconnect with hundreds of millions of audiences. Their live stream was described by outsiders as "an extended campaign rally speech": Trump spoke at length during the live stream, promoting his policy proposals, rarely interrupted by Musk.

For Musk, he was happy to play the supporting role, allowing Trump to shine while seizing the opportunity to discuss issues he cared about. For example, during the live stream, Musk suggested that if Trump won, a committee focusing on "government efficiency" should be established, jokingly proposing that he could lead it. Trump responded with delight, calling it a "good idea," and jokingly suggested naming it the Department of Government Efficiency, abbreviated as DOGE (the same name as Musk's beloved Dogecoin).

Days later, Musk solemnly stated on X, "I am willing to serve." This seemed like an oath of loyalty to Trump, but it also hinted that he had tied his personal reputation to Trump's political fate.

In the final stages of the campaign in October, Musk even personally stepped forward to rally support for Trump. He made several appearances at Trump's large rallies that month, drawing significant media attention. One classic appearance occurred at Madison Square Garden in New York: Musk took the stage wearing an all-black "MAGA" baseball cap and a T-shirt emblazoned with "Occupy Mars," introducing himself by saying, "As you can see, I am not just MAGA—I am dark, gothic MAGA." The audience of Trump's staunch supporters erupted in enthusiastic applause and cheers.

This somewhat bizarre declaration of "dark MAGA" quickly became a hot topic on social media. The term "dark MAGA" originally emerged as a fringe meme online, carrying far-right and apocalyptic connotations, emphasizing a more radical and hardline approach to "Make America Great Again." Musk's public embrace of this label surprised and even unsettled many moderate conservatives, but it also delighted Trump's most fervent base. Some analysts pointed out that Musk's move was equivalent to courting the most extreme supporters of Trump's camp, positioning himself as a "fellow traveler" alongside them.

Musk's high-profile "endorsement" also included personally attending campaign rallies to endorse Trump.

On October 5, 2024, he appeared at a Trump rally in Iowa wearing Trump's signature red "Make America Great Again" hat, drawing media focus. Musk stated on stage, "As you can see, I am not just MAGA—I am 'dark MAGA'." This remark quickly became a topic of discussion, with some joking that their combination resembled an absurd reality show—"the president and his tech-mad partner." The Washington Post commented that Musk had risen to become Trump's "first buddy," closely accompanying him in public and drawing attention.

Political Honeymoon: Advancing as Advisors and Mutual Praise

After Trump won the 2024 election, his relationship with Musk reached its peak, with the media dubbing it a "billionaire co-governance." Trump not only frequently praised Musk in public but also unprecedentedly created an informal position for him. A week after the election, Trump announced Musk's appointment to lead the newly established "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE), working alongside incoming government officials to "cut spending and trim fat." This position, so close to the center of presidential power, was unprecedented for a businessperson without electoral authorization.

Axios stated that this made Musk "the most powerful unelected person in American history."

On January 20, 2025, Trump was sworn in as president in Washington, beginning his second term. According to U.S. media reports, Musk was also invited to attend the inauguration ceremony, sitting in the guest area alongside other tech giants Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg. These Silicon Valley figures, once viewed as political adversaries by Trump, gathered together to witness the ceremony, which is intriguing. For Musk, this was his first public appearance as a "trusted confidant" of the president.

Shortly after the inauguration ceremony, Musk quickly took office, entering the White House as a special advisor and appointed government employee, beginning his work at DOGE.

In the early days of Trump's presidency, Musk became a prominent figure in Washington. He and Trump mutually utilized and praised each other, creating a brief yet high-profile "honeymoon period." Trump almost never missed an opportunity to praise Musk, calling him "brilliant" and "energetic," capable of innovating government with business thinking. During a cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump publicly thanked Musk "for his contributions to the country," calling him "a patriot and my friend." Musk, sitting nearby wearing a prominent red MAGA hat, shyly nodded in acknowledgment.

Some attendees recalled that several ministers who had previously had reservations about Musk raised their glasses to praise the "fruitful results" of his streamlining efforts, led by Trump. Such collective praise for Musk was rare in Washington, becoming a topic of interest.

Musk's actual performance in Trump's administration also attracted attention. He swiftly launched a series of "bold" actions: demanding that government agencies submit budget-cutting proposals, freezing some civil servant hiring, and suspending funding for several federal projects, among others.

Reports indicated that Musk had boasted to Trump that DOGE could save the federal government at least $2 trillion in spending. However, while the ideal was grand, the reality was stark. Although Musk boldly "cut" multiple departments, by May 2025, he had only reduced less than 0.5% of the federal annual budget—equivalent to several billion dollars, far from the $2 trillion target.

Despite this, Trump continued to publicly support Musk's efforts, hosting a farewell press conference for him at the end of May. In the Oval Office press conference, Trump and Musk chatted happily, thanking each other in front of the cameras, turning what could have been a departure filled with tension into a display of "mutual admiration and pleasant cooperation."

However, some signs indicated that Musk's situation in Washington was not as rosy as it appeared. Politico revealed that the White House had a love-hate relationship with Musk. On one hand, Trump and some close aides highly praised the innovative ideas he brought; on the other hand, many officials privately complained that Musk was "headstrong and unruly," often expressing policy opinions directly without going through the staff system, posting unvetted government reduction plans on X, catching cabinet members and the chief of staff off guard. Even more concerning for some of Trump's allies was that Musk was increasingly becoming a new target for Democrats to attack the Trump administration—Democrats portrayed him as a "straw man" for the Trump administration to beat, using him to mobilize their own voters.

For instance, during a crucial spring 2025 Supreme Court justice special election in Wisconsin, the Democratic camp heavily criticized Musk for spending lavishly to influence the election, claiming it was a referendum on the "extreme billionaire." As a result, the conservative candidate supported by Republicans lost by 10 percentage points, with some members of Trump's team attributing the defeat to the backlash triggered by Musk. Various signs indicated that Musk's "double-edged sword" was bringing opportunities while also sowing hidden worries.

Despite the noise, Musk and Trump continued to publicly display a close relationship. The two not only frequently met in the White House to discuss agendas, but Trump also arranged some high-profile moments to showcase their "alliance." On November 19, 2024, Trump personally flew to Texas to accompany Musk in watching the launch of SpaceX's Starship. The image of the president and the billionaire gazing up at the rocket's ascent quickly made headlines across major media outlets. This scene was interpreted as a joint declaration of their vision of "technology making America great again," also implying Trump's reciprocation of support for Musk's business endeavors.

At the CPAC conference in February 2025, Musk took the stage as a special guest. He held up a red chainsaw, jokingly telling the audience, "This is our weapon against bureaucracy!" Interestingly, he shared the stage with newly elected populist president of Argentina, Javier Milei, who even gifted the chainsaw to Musk. Conservative activists in the audience waved flags featuring the Dogecoin image and "Musk 2024," cheering for both of them. The Associated Press commented that this scene showed Musk had become a symbolic figure of Trump's conservative movement, "the former global billionaire who once supported Obama and Biden now stands at the center of American right-wing politics."

Under Currents and Gaps: From Trade Wars to AI Regulation

However, even the hottest honeymoon could not hide the emerging differences. In the spring of 2025, a series of policy contradictions began to test the alliance between Trump and Musk.

At the forefront was the trade and tariff policy towards China. It is well-known that Trump's tough stance on trade with China is a hallmark of his agenda, while Musk's Tesla is deeply entrenched in the Chinese market, leading to conflicting interests. In early April, Trump suddenly announced significant tariff increases on numerous countries, including allies, citing the need to protect American jobs and reduce the trade deficit. The news sent shockwaves through global markets: major stock indices plummeted, and panic spread among investors.

Since Tesla relies on global supply chains and the Chinese market, when Trump's tariff "sledgehammer" came down, Musk's personal wealth also suffered a severe blow—reports indicated that during the stock market crash, Musk's net worth briefly fell below $300 billion.

Musk did not sit idly by. Reports revealed that over the weekend following the announcement of the tariff policy, he directly contacted Trump multiple times, pleading with the president to reconsider and withdraw the decision to impose comprehensive tariffs. Musk emphasized that the trade war had already caused "chaos in the international market," and further escalation would threaten the U.S. economy and harm Trump's wealthy supporters. However, Trump remained deaf to these pleas, not only refusing to back down but also threatening to "increase tariffs by another 50%" the following Monday.

Musk's lobbying hit a wall. The Guardian commented that Musk's failed lobbying against tariffs was seen as "evidence of the growing rift between the two." This tariff debacle highlighted the irreconcilable ideological differences between Trump and Musk on issues involving nationalist economic policies: the former insisted on pursuing trade protectionism, while the latter defended globalization and corporate interests.

Another potential point of contention was artificial intelligence (AI) policy. Musk has long held a cautious, even wary, attitude towards AI, repeatedly warning of its "potential existential threats" and calling for regulations to ensure AI safety. In contrast, the Trump administration leaned towards loosening regulations and encouraging competition on AI issues. During the 2024 Trump campaign, he promised to completely overturn Biden's AI regulatory framework, accusing the Democratic administration's AI executive orders of "shackling innovation and forcing in extreme leftist ideas."

Trump stated he would ensure AI development "is rooted in free speech and human welfare," implying that businesses should primarily self-regulate and reduce government intervention. In stark contrast, Musk not only publicly supported stricter AI safety legislation but also unusually endorsed a California bill proposing to review AI algorithms (though the bill was ultimately defeated). He worried that unregulated AI could lead to ethical and safety disasters. It is foreseeable that in this cutting-edge field of AI regulation, their differences were only lurking beneath the surface. Should Trump actually push to abolish AI safety measures, whether Musk would stand up to oppose it could become a potential friction point between them.

In addition, Musk and Trump also had differing views on fiscal deficits and spending. Musk, as an advocate of streamlined efficiency, was naturally wary of government deficits and debt; Trump, on the other hand, focused more on large-scale tax cuts and high spending to stimulate the economy, showing little concern for federal debt.

In early 2025, the Trump administration launched an ambitious "Big Beautiful Bill," which included extending the 2017 tax cuts, increasing military spending, and border security funding, significantly ramping up fiscal expenditures. Independent congressional agencies estimated that this plan would add $2.4 trillion in debt over the next ten years.

Musk was deeply concerned about this. He privately reminded Trump that such actions would effectively nullify the spending cuts he had painstakingly achieved through DOGE. By May, Musk had planned to step down from DOGE, but he still did not forget to sound the alarm on budget issues. He gradually made this unease public: frequently sharing deficit warning messages on X, bluntly stating that "America is speeding towards debt slavery." Musk even hinted that if the government continued to accumulate debt, the U.S. would eventually face the dire consequences of fiscal mismanagement.

Initially, the White House and Republican leadership attempted to downplay these signs of divergence. The president's press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, responded to media inquiries by stating that Musk's dissatisfaction with the budget proposal was merely "a small disagreement in an overall harmonious relationship," and it did not change the president's determination to push the bill through. Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters that regardless of what Musk said, Congress would implement the president's legislative agenda. However, it was undeniable that some of Trump's close aides had begun to view Musk as an "uncontrolled variable" or even a "political burden."

Politico revealed that White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and others were extremely annoyed by Musk's unilateral criticism of the tax reform bill, prompting the president's team to make late-night calls to several senators to reassure them and reiterate Trump's support for the bill. Sources indicated that in mid-May, Trump mentioned in an internal meeting that Musk would "retire after achieving success," suggesting he would return to the business world after his 130-day special employee term ended.

In fact, just as DOGE was in its final sprint phase, Tesla's first-quarter profits plummeted by 71%. Wall Street analysts urged Musk to stop over-investing in politics and return to rescue Tesla's declining stock price.

Musk himself acknowledged that the company needed him to invest more energy. Clearly, the conflict between his dual identities as a "businessman and public servant" was putting Musk in a difficult position, while Trump's camp was quietly preparing for a "post-Musk era."

Short-lived Good Times: Public Breakup and the Aftermath of Love and Conflict

At the end of May 2025, Musk stepped down from his role as special advisor to the "Department of Government Efficiency" as originally planned. He expressed gratitude to Trump and colleagues on social media, stating, "Mission accomplished; I can return to focus on my career."

White House officials emphasized that Musk's departure was merely "the end of a phase," and the president still held gratitude towards him, hoping to continue receiving his support in the future. On May 30, when Trump and Musk staged a courteous "farewell show" at the White House, the public may have believed that the two would continue to maintain a friendly cooperative relationship. After all, at the press conference, Trump praised Musk as "amazing," and Musk repeatedly nodded in acknowledgment, presenting a harmonious image.

However, just days later, this "honeymoon" relationship took a sharp turn for the worse. The conflict was ignited by the aforementioned "Big Beautiful Bill" dispute. Musk had already harbored doubts about Trump's fiscal proposal, and after stepping down from government, he felt even less constrained in publicly criticizing it.

In early June, he sent out a series of harsh posts, calling for Congress to take aim at the bill. Musk lambasted the bill for being filled with "pork" (metaphorically referring to unrelated personal interests), which would lead to uncontrolled federal deficits. He also mocked lawmakers supporting the bill as "knowing wrongdoers." Such public criticism of the president's legislative agenda was unimaginable during their cooperative period. Musk also deliberately drew a line regarding personal grievances: he did not directly attack Trump, only targeting the policy itself. He later clarified that he did not oppose eliminating electric vehicle subsidies, "as long as that disgusting 'mountain of wasteful spending' is removed from the bill." He emphasized that he opposed the excessive spending parts of the bill, not the provisions that harmed Tesla's interests.

Initially, Trump responded through aides, stating that he was already aware of Musk's views on the bill, but this "would not change the president's position at all." However, Musk's high-profile "defection" undoubtedly enraged Trump.

In a media interview on June 5, Trump rarely named Musk in criticism, revealing the cold side of the former president when turning against a former ally. "Elon used to praise me in every way… now he hasn't attacked me personally, but I'm sure he will soon," Trump said to reporters in the Oval Office. "Honestly, I am very disappointed in Elon. I helped him a lot."

This statement revealed Trump's typical "transactional" mindset: in his view, Musk had reaped the benefits of his favor (financial support, political prestige) and should repay with absolute loyalty; Musk's current criticism was seen as ungrateful.

Trump further hinted that Musk's opposition to the bill was due to its plan to eliminate electric vehicle tax credits, suggesting he was protecting Tesla's interests. He also mocked Musk for "not being able to sit still after leaving," saying, "Many people regret leaving my administration; some come back to serve, while others turn against me." This series of statements effectively announced that the honeymoon between Trump and Musk was officially over, and their relationship had plunged to a freezing point.

As soon as Trump's harsh words fell, Musk immediately responded on X, somewhat sarcastically echoing Trump's preference for the bill: "Let the trimmed-down version of the 'Big Beautiful Bill' win." He emphasized support for a streamlined tax reform plan while insisting on cutting wasteful spending. This back-and-forth exchange led the media to use terms like "crossfire" and "tear into each other." In no time, "Trump-Musk breakup" became a hot topic in political circles. Some commentators joked that their relationship was proving a popular internet saying: "The friendship boat capsizes at any moment."

More importantly, the public fallout between Trump and Musk was not an isolated incident but reflected a larger conflict within the Republican Party over fiscal policy. Musk's stance on "cutting deficits" actually gathered several hardline conservatives in Congress, who also strongly opposed Trump's massive tax cuts and spending plans. These Republican senators prided themselves on being "deficit hawks," demanding significant cuts to government budgets, leading to a split with Trump's camp.

Trump, on the other hand, sought to maintain party unity, privately persuading dissenters to "give Musk a break" and temporarily ignore his calls to advance the bill's vote. Some White House aides downplayed Musk's complaints as "just a one-time disagreement," claiming that the president and Musk "overall still have a harmonious relationship." However, many Republicans in the Senate held Musk in disdain. As one unnamed senior senator put it, "I don't think many senators really care what Elon thinks… it's just noise. We are serious policy people responsible for governing the country; we don't have time to heed his finger-pointing." This statement reflected the Washington establishment's dismissive attitude towards an "outsider" like Musk.

As the turmoil intensified, Trump's communications team found itself in a passive position.

Politico reported that Trump's aides had recently breathed a sigh of relief, believing Musk's timely exit from the inner circle might not be a bad thing for the president. After all, with the 2026 midterm elections approaching, Trump needed the entire party united to retain control of both chambers, leaving no room for any hindrance. Musk, as a defiant "outsider," could ultimately become a burden or even an adversary.

Even Trump himself, after publicly expressing disappointment in Musk, released a meaningful remark: "We used to have a great relationship; now it's hard to say." This statement, in the political arena, was akin to formally drawing a line.

Aftermath and Outlook: Can the Capsized Boat Be Stabilized?

Currently, the conflict between Trump and Musk over policy and loyalty continues to simmer. A large number of conservative media and opinion leaders supporting Trump have begun to criticize Musk, accusing him of "ingratitude" and "standing against the people." Musk's supporters defended their idol, claiming he was sticking to his principles and not being a mere echo of the president. In no time, fans from both sides fiercely clashed on social media, reminiscent of the drama surrounding Trump's break with former lawyer Cohen or former Defense Secretary Mattis. However, this time, the two sides of the rift featured the president on one side and the world's richest man wielding significant media influence on the other, making the impact even more complex.

In the public discourse, many media outlets have published in-depth analyses exploring the deeper reasons behind the rupture in their relationship. Axios had warned as early as after the 2024 election that the "power duo" of Trump and Musk was at risk of a split because both of their personalities could not accommodate one party being subordinate. Both are ambitious and defiant; their brief cooperation was mutually beneficial, but long-term collaboration would inevitably lead to a situation where "two tigers cannot coexist."

The Guardian pointed out more direct considerations of interest: the trade war and fiscal disputes proved that Musk ultimately needed to protect his global business landscape and personal wealth, while Trump had to cater to populism and voter promises. When these two interests clashed, "friendship" would yield to their respective calculations. Some comments jokingly noted that perhaps "Musk's loyalty to Trump had a validity period of only 130 days"—exactly the duration of his special government employee term. Once that term expired, he would regain his freedom and no longer be bound by the team, allowing him to express differing opinions at will.

Interestingly, Trump himself left a sliver of room for reconciliation in this fallout. After fiercely criticizing Musk, he shifted his tone, stating, "I really wanted to keep him longer… he did a great job." The White House spokesperson later added, "The president really wants to keep Elon; it's just that Elon has his own company to manage." This simultaneously denied the severity of the breakup while seemingly revealing a sense of regret and reluctance. Historically, Trump has not been averse to mending fences with former allies, such as with former campaign strategist Bannon and Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, after falling out and then reuniting when political needs arose.

Therefore, some analysts believe that it is not out of the question for Trump and Musk to shake hands and reconcile at some point in the future. After all, they share common political enemies (such as the establishment Democrats) and similar foreign policy ideas (such as distrust of the media and elites). A person familiar with both remarked to The New York Times, "This feels more like a glamorous dance than a real duel."

However, regardless of how the future unfolds, the brief lifecycle of the "Trump-Musk alliance" has already left a thought-provoking interlude in history. It showcased a moment of strange intertwining between political and business power in the U.S.: a former president willing to grant unprecedented influence to a business leader, while the latter once poured resources into assisting the president's comeback. Behind this "love" lies a driving force of mutual interests; when those interests no longer align, "conflict" becomes inevitable.

Trump has always been "capricious, fickle, and demanding loyalty from others above all else"; Musk is accustomed to being "unconventional and self-willed," not changing his style even in the face of the president. This determined that the alliance between the two was fraught with cracks from the moment it was born.

Now, the "friendship boat" carrying these two influential figures of the era has capsized in the waves. Perhaps one day in the future, Musk and Trump will choose to shake hands again, sailing together once more—just as often happens in American politics, where there are no permanent friends and no permanent enemies. But it is certain that after this round of love and conflict, the American public, media, and even the political arena have gained a clearer understanding of the true nature of their relationship.

As some sharp commentary pointed out: "Trump's so-called loyalty is merely a demand for others to be infinitely loyal to him; Musk's friendship ultimately must also obey the calculations of interests." Such a sarcastic annotation may well be the best warning this political legend offers to the world.