TIMELINE: Once besties, Trump & Musk now get into it…

Leave a CommentTIMELINE: Once besties, Trump & Musk now get into it…Government

In the annals of American politics, few partnerships have burned as brightly—or crashed as spectacularly—as that of Elon Musk and Donald Trump. Once allies in a bold vision to reshape Washington, the tech mogul and the 47th president now trade barbs in a public feud that has captivated the nation. Their falling-out, rooted in clashing egos and policy disputes, marks a turning point in Trump’s second term and Musk’s political ambitions. Here’s how it unfolded.

Timeline of the Rift

  • July 2024: Musk, previously neutral in the 2024 race, endorses Trump on X after a Pennsylvania rally incident. He pours over $200 million into pro-Trump PACs, including $238.5 million to America PAC, cementing his role as a campaign heavyweight.
  • October 2024: Musk’s star rises on the campaign trail. He rallies crowds, notably in Butler, Pennsylvania, and launches a controversial $1 million daily voter giveaway. On election night, he’s by Trump’s side at Mar-a-Lago, a symbol of their alliance.
  • November 2024: Trump’s victory ushers Musk into the administration as co-leader of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), tasked with slashing federal spending. Musk’s influence peaks, but his aggressive cuts spark backlash.
  • January–February 2025: Musk is everywhere—Cabinet meetings, the inauguration, even the Lincoln Bedroom. DOGE’s layoffs of over 100,000 federal workers and cuts to programs like USAID draw protests. Tesla’s sales and stock plummet, hinting at trouble.
  • March 2025: Cracks appear. Trump rebuffs Musk’s request for Pentagon war plans, per Steve Bannon, and stops mentioning him in fundraising emails. DOGE’s $1–2 trillion savings goal stalls amid legal challenges, frustrating Musk.
  • April 2025: Trump’s inner circle grows wary of Musk’s 38% approval rating and clashes with figures like Marco Rubio. Insiders hint Musk’s role may end, and he signals a return to his businesses, citing Washington’s dysfunction.
  • May 2025:
    • Early May: Musk’s influence fades. X posts suggest Trump’s advisors urged distance due to Musk’s unpopularity. A $20 million loss in a Wisconsin judicial race underscores his political missteps.
    • May 22: The House passes Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a multi-trillion-dollar tax and spending package. Musk slams it on X for ballooning the deficit, breaking ranks with Trump.
    • May 28–29: Musk quits DOGE as his 130-day term ends, citing bureaucratic gridlock and the bill’s failure. His X posts thank Trump but betray disillusionment. Reports confirm no exit talks occurred, signaling a cold departure.
    • May 30: Donald Trump presented Elon Musk with a ceremonial golden key during a tense Oval Office news conference. The event marked Musk’s formal exit from his role at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), though Trump claimed Musk would remain an advisor. The key was a symbolic gesture, not a literal key to the White House, and the ceremony was noted for its tense atmosphere amid their growing rift.
    • details of the ceremony
    • other Trump ceremonial gifts)
  • June 2025:
    • June 3: Musk escalates, branding the spending bill a “disgusting abomination” on X and aligning with fiscal hawks like Rand Paul. Republican leaders are blindsided.
    • June 5: The feud explodes at a White House meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Trump accuses Musk of flip-flopping over EV subsidy cuts (worth $7,500 to Tesla buyers). Musk denies seeing the bill, alleging it was rushed through Congress. Trump threatens SpaceX’s NASA contracts; Musk briefly announces decommissioning SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, then backtracks. On X, Musk endorses a post alleging Trump’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein files and calls for impeachment. Trump fires back on Truth Social, labeling Musk “CRAZY” and claiming he was sacked.
    • June 6: The saga dominates headlines. Musk vows to outlast Trump’s 3.5-year term, while Trump’s team downplays the rift. House Republicans call Musk a “joke,” and Tesla’s stock drops 14%.

The Heart of the Conflict

This isn’t just a policy spat—it’s a clash of titans. Musk’s crusade against the spending bill, projected to add $2.3–5 trillion to the deficit, clashed with Trump’s deal-making ethos. The removal of EV tax credits, critical for Tesla, added a personal sting. Musk’s unpopularity, with DOGE’s cuts fueling protests, made him a liability for Trump, whose advisors pushed for separation. Both men, accustomed to dominating their domains, couldn’t share the spotlight. Musk’s business empire—Tesla, SpaceX, Starlink—suffered collateral damage, with conflicts of interest and Jared Isaacman’s NASA nomination withdrawal adding fuel.

What’s Next?

As of June 6, 2025, the Musk-Trump alliance lies in ruins. Musk, once Trump’s kingmaker, now plays the rebel, leveraging X to rally support. Trump, stung by betrayal, wields federal contracts as weapons. Unless this is an elaborate piece of political theater, reconciliation seems unlikely; their egos are too large, their visions too divergent. Musk’s pivot to fiscal conservatism could reshape his political future, while Trump faces a term without his most dynamic ally.

The world watches, enthralled – and amused-, as two giants battle for supremacy in a drama only Washington could script.