Trump, Musk Feud Deepens Over US Spending Bill, Government Contracts

President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, once political allies with Musk co-leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), have experienced a public and bitter fallout largely due to Musk's opposition to Trump's $1.6 trillion tax-and-spending package, dubbed the "Big Beautiful Bill." Musk criticized the bill for increasing the deficit, eliminating electric-vehicle incentives, and promoting tariffs he claims will cause a recession, even suggesting conspiracy theories about Trump. In response, Trump threatened to cancel Musk's government contracts and criticized Musk's actions as "crazy," while also pulling back on electric vehicle mandates that benefit Tesla. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has commented humorously on the feud, describing it as a clash of two large egos and noting the potential legislative consequences of their dispute. The breakdown of their relationship marks a significant rift between two influential figures who once shared goals of deregulation and government reform. This conflict illustrates tensions in US politics involving deregulation, economic policy, and the intersection of government and private sector interests.