Trump, Musk Publicly Split Over US Federal Budget Bill

The alliance between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, once marked by mutual political support and collaboration, has dramatically deteriorated due to disagreements over Trump’s signature multi-trillion-dollar tax and budget bill. Musk has publicly criticized the bill as a "disgusting abomination" that would increase the national deficit and threaten subsidies critical to his businesses, notably SpaceX. Trump responded with sharp rebukes, accusing Musk of "Trump Derangement Syndrome" and suggesting Musk was bitter over losing influence and financial support. The feud escalated with Trump threatening to terminate government subsidies worth billions to Musk’s companies, while Musk defended his role in Trump’s 2024 election success and lamented the president's ingratitude. This breakdown follows Musk’s recent departure from his government role in the so-called Department of Government Efficiency and highlights the fragile nature of their political alliance, which was always seen as one of convenience between two powerful, erratic billionaires. The public spat, witnessed even during official meetings, underscores the high stakes for Trump’s political agenda, Musk’s business interests, and broader implications for the Republican Party and U.S. governance.