Trump Dismisses Musk in Feud Over Policy Clash

President Donald Trump has publicly distanced himself from billionaire Elon Musk, signaling a dramatic end to their once-close alliance. In a phone call with CNN, Trump remarked that he is “not even thinking about” Musk and has no plans to speak with him soon, adding, “He’s got a problem. The poor guy’s got a problem.”

The rift stems from Musk’s sharp criticism of Trump’s signature legislative package, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” This sprawling tax and spending cuts proposal, which passed the House in May, has drawn ire from Musk, who called it a “disgusting abomination” on his social media platform X.

Musk, who spent nearly $300 million supporting Trump’s 2024 campaign, argues the bill will balloon the federal deficit by $2.4 trillion over a decade, according to Congressional Budget Office estimates. He has urged lawmakers to reject it, even threatening to fund campaigns against Republicans who support it.

Trump, in response, accused Musk of being motivated by personal interests, particularly the removal of electric vehicle subsidies that benefit Musk’s company, Tesla. The president claimed Musk “went crazy” after learning of plans to eliminate these tax credits, a move Trump says he had long planned.

The feud escalated when Musk alleged, without evidence, that Trump appears in unreleased Jeffrey Epstein files, a claim the White House called an “unfortunate episode.” Trump’s team insists the president remains focused on passing the bill, which includes tax cuts, border security measures, and energy production boosts.

House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed disappointment in Musk’s stance, noting they had a “friendly” discussion about the bill’s merits. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, pushing for the bill’s passage by July 4, downplayed Musk’s influence, calling it a “difference of opinion.”

Musk’s brief tenure leading the Department of Government Efficiency ended last week, during which he oversaw significant federal workforce cuts. His departure and subsequent attacks on the bill have left some Republicans worried about political fallout in the 2026 midterms.

White House aides reportedly tried to arrange a call to mend ties, but Trump has shown little interest, telling ABC News he views Musk as “the man who has lost his mind.” For now, the public spat between these two powerful figures shows no signs of cooling, casting uncertainty over their future collaboration.