Overview

• Trump publicly threatened to cancel government contracts and subsidies for Musk’s firms, including Tesla and SpaceX, to cut billions from the budget.
• Musk responded by denouncing Trump’s “Big and Beautiful Bill” as a “disgusting abomination,” accusing the president of ingratitude and alleging his name appears in Jeffrey Epstein’s files.
• The clash triggered a more than 14 percent plunge in Tesla’s stock, wiping out tens of billions in market value in two trading sessions.
• Musk floated forming a new centrist political party with an X poll that garnered over 80 percent support and threatened to withdraw SpaceX’s Dragon capsule from NASA missions.
• Observers warn the feud could end Musk’s government partnerships and deprive the Republican Party of its top donor as midterm elections approach.