Overview

• Elon Musk’s public criticism of Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” as a “disgusting abomination” prompted Trump to threaten cancellation of government contracts with Tesla and SpaceX.
• Musk escalated the spat by alleging Trump’s involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein files and warning he would decommission SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft.
• Steve Bannon has called for a special counsel probe into Musk’s alleged drug use and proposed nationalizing SpaceX revenues tied to federal contracts.
• Trump told reporters he wished Musk well on Monday, and Musk replied on X with a heart emoji, marking a tentative thaw in their feud.
• The high-profile clash has raised questions about its impact on Republican dynamics ahead of the 2026 midterms given Musk’s political influence and past campaign support.