Elon Musk vs Donald Trump: Praise, Pork, and Political Fallout

From campaign trail allies to Twitter tension: Musk and Trump’s relationship hits another snag

In the ever-evolving drama of American politics, Elon Musk and Donald Trump are once again centre stage — not as partners, but as sparring heavyweights. And while it’s not unusual for billionaire power players to clash with presidents, this feud is laced with ego, policy, and more than a few headline-grabbing soundbites.

‘Wonderful guy,’ says Trump — but there’s a but

On Sunday, Donald Trump struck a surprisingly mellow tone in an interview with Fox News when asked about Musk’s recent online outburst.

“I think he’s a wonderful guy,” said the former US president. “He’s smart. He campaigned with me. But he got a little bit upset, and that wasn’t appropriate.”

That “little bit upset” moment? Musk’s fiery takedown of Trump’s pending tax bill — a piece of legislation the former president has proudly dubbed his “big beautiful bill.”

On Saturday, Musk posted on X (formerly Twitter), calling the bill “utterly insane and destructive”, accusing it of destroying jobs and stifling innovation. The Tesla and SpaceX boss didn’t mince words either, adding that it handed cash to “industries of the past” while endangering future-focused sectors like his own.

EV credits, space threats, and spicy tweets

At the heart of Musk’s frustration are proposed changes to electric vehicle (EV) tax credits — a pillar of the Biden-era green energy push that Trump’s bill appears to roll back. It’s a move that directly affects Tesla, the crown jewel of Musk’s empire.

Trump seemed to acknowledge this on Sunday, noting that EV mandates are “a tough thing for him” and adding, “I don’t want everybody to have to have an electric car.”

But things turned personal earlier in the month, when Musk launched an even harsher critique of Trump’s bill, describing it as a “MOUNTAIN of DISGUSTING PORK.” In the same thread, he threatened to decommission SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft — a bold claim considering its ongoing partnership with NASA.

He later walked that back. But not before posting, “Without me, Trump would have lost the election… such ingratitude.”

High stakes and higher tensions

The tension escalated further on June 5, when Trump publicly aired his disappointment in Musk and hinted that government contracts with Musk’s companies — like NASA and the Pentagon — could be on the chopping block.

But just days later, the tone shifted once again.

“I wish him well,” Trump told reporters. “We had a good relationship.”

Musk, too, cooled the temperature, admitting in a follow-up post that his earlier comments about Trump “went too far.”

What South Africans are saying

Local X users were quick to weigh in on the American tech-politics drama, with some poking fun at the billionaire bromance.

“Peak American soap opera. Musk turns on Trump, Trump calls him a wonderful guy. We need this energy for Generations: The Legacy,” one Joburg-based user quipped.

Others took the moment to reflect on Musk’s South African roots: “Elon’s got the SA flair for drama. One minute fighting, next minute ‘I wish him well’ vibes.”

A billionaire bromance on the rocks?

This isn’t the first time Musk and Trump have butted heads. While Musk supported Trump’s 2024 campaign with hefty donations — reportedly over $270 million — their partnership has always walked a tightrope between shared interests and stubborn personalities.

For now, the verbal jabs appear to have paused. But with Trump’s tax bill still up for a Senate vote and Musk’s businesses deeply tied to federal contracts, this feud might only be warming up.

And in the age of instant posts and political plot twists, anything could happen next — especially when America’s most unpredictable president and tech titan are involved.

Source:Business Insider

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