In a surprising outburst at the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed deep disappointment in tech billionaire Elon Musk, following the latter’s harsh criticism of his signature tax and spending bill. Speaking during a press briefing with visiting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump said his long-standing friendship with Musk may no longer survive the fallout.
“Look, Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore. I was surprised,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “I’m very disappointed, because Elon knew the inner workings of this bill better than almost anybody here… All of a sudden, he had a problem.”
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Musk had earlier described the bill as a “disgusting abomination” and called on Republican lawmakers to reject it, warning that it would “massively grow the deficit” without addressing key national priorities.
Responding to Trump’s comments, Musk fired back on X (formerly Twitter), rejecting the president’s claims that he had prior knowledge of the bill. “That’s false,” Musk wrote, adding a dismissive “Whatever,” above a clip of Trump alleging that Musk was upset about losing electric vehicle subsidies.
The tension between the former allies escalated just days after Musk stepped down from his short-lived role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) — an initiative led by Trump to slash federal spending. At the farewell, Musk shocked reporters by appearing with a black eye, which he claimed was caused by his son.
“You saw a man who was very happy standing behind the Oval desk, even with the black eye,” Trump said. “I offered him some makeup, but he said no. He wants to be who he is. That’s interesting and very nice.”
Trump acknowledged Musk’s frustration with his administration’s recent withdrawal of a NASA nominee backed by the billionaire, hinting that political disagreements may have contributed to their fallout.
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The president’s controversial “big, beautiful bill” is the centerpiece of his domestic policy and could be pivotal in shaping the 2026 U.S. midterm elections. However, Musk’s public opposition has injected new tension into Republican ranks, with some conservatives now reconsidering their support.
Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, has been an influential voice in Washington, especially on technology, energy policy, and government innovation. His fallout with Trump adds another layer to the complex dynamics of the 2025 political landscape.
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