It’s official: Elon Musk and Donald Trump are no longer on the same team. What started as a strange-but-functional alliance between a bombastic president and a tech billionaire has devolved into a very public feud, with accusations flying over tariffs, government spending, and yes even Musk’s alleged drug use.
Trump recently rolled out his latest legislative darling, the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill.” It promises sweeping tax cuts paired with a dramatic increase in federal spending the kind of thing that sounds great on stage but has economists clutching their calculators. Musk didn’t hold back. He called the bill a “disgusting abomination,” warning that it could balloon the national deficit by over $2.5 trillion.
But the real breaking point? Tariffs. Trump has revived his “America First” trade war rhetoric, this time targeting Chinese electric vehicles. On paper, it’s about protecting American manufacturers. But Musk, who runs one of the largest EV companies on Earth, says it’s a disaster waiting to happen.
“Neither Tesla nor I asked for these tariffs,” Musk told reporters, making it clear that protectionism isn’t helping. Tesla relies on complex international supply chains including rare materials like lithium and cobalt and the tariffs threaten to drive up costs across the board. That’s bad news not just for Tesla, but for American consumers who’ll end up paying more for electric cars.
Tesla even issued a warning to U.S. trade officials, cautioning that retaliatory tariffs from countries like Canada which has already slapped a 25% tariff on $30 billion worth of U.S. goods could leave American exporters at a massive disadvantage. Musk isn’t mincing words: he thinks this could backfire, hard.
But the economic disagreements are only part of the story. This feud also has a personal edge and a strange one at that.
Musk has always been eccentric, but his recent behavior has raised eyebrows even among his supporters. Reports of his alleged drug use including ketamine and psychedelics have resurfaced, with some insiders quietly questioning whether it’s affecting his decision-making. Musk has admitted to occasional use, claiming it doesn’t interfere with his work, but critics including some close to Trump are painting him as unstable and erratic.
Which, of course, plays perfectly into Trump’s strategy: discredit the messenger. Behind the scenes, Trump’s allies have been pushing a narrative that Musk’s opposition is more about ego and impulse than thoughtful policy. And for a base that values toughness and control, that message could stick.
This rift would be dramatic enough on its own, but it’s even more striking given their past. Musk once served as head of the Department of Government Efficiency under Trump — a made-up-sounding but real position that reflected their shared belief in “disruption” over bureaucracy. Now, Musk has gone from cabinet insider to one of Trump’s most high-profile critics.
What’s playing out isn’t just a policy disagreement. It’s the collapse of an uneasy alliance between two men who, despite their differences, shared a vision of shaking up the system. Now that alliance has cracked and the result is a clash of egos, ideologies, and headlines.
The fallout could get even messier. Musk still commands massive influence in the tech world and among younger voters. Trump remains a juggernaut in Republican politics, especially as he positions himself for a possible comeback in the 2028 election. Their feud is more than tabloid fodder it could shape the future of policy, trade, and the broader ideological battles that define the post-2020s political landscape.
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