Trump and Musk trade barbs in public falling out

US President Donald Trump and his former adviser, Elon Musk are having a very public falling out.

As Trump hosted German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the White House, the US president expressed his “disappointment” with Musk over his public criticism of Trump’s tax and spending bill that is up for approval by the Senate. 

Trump-Musk relationship unravels

Trump said he didn’t know if his “great relationship” with Musk would remain the same after the billionaire slammed the bill on social media as “a disgusting abomination.”

“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.

Trump claimed Musk’s opposition to the bill was driven by its elimination of tax credits for electric vehicles, which would potentially hurt Tesla.

The US president later posted on his media platform Truth Social that Musk “just went CRAZY” after “I took away his EV Mandate.”

Musk, however, says he opposes the bill because it would increase federal deficits, posting on X on Wednesday that “Congress was spending America into bankruptcy.”

It was part of a barrage of sniping posts that Musk launched on Wednesday evening. 

His posts then moved from politics to the personal, with Musk linking Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Musk claims Trump in Epstein files

“Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!” Musk posted late Wednesday evening.

Musk provided no evidence for his claims.

Trump’s previous association with the wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein, who hanged himself while awaiting trial, has been widely reported in the past.

Trump has said the two had a falling-out 15 or so years ago and hasn’t publicly objected to the release of the Epstein files. These are the documents linked to the sex-trafficking investigation into Epstein.

The files are currently under review by the Justice Department.

Trump threatens to cut Musk’s government contracts

Trump hasn’t responded to Musk’s posts about Epstein.

But late on Wednesday evening, he threatened to cut Musk’s government contracts in a Truth Social post.

“The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts. I was always surprised that Biden didn’t do it!” Trump said.

Elon was “wearing thin,” Trump posted.

Musk spent at least $250 million (€218 million) backing Trump’s bid to return to the White House and was tasked with heading up the cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Just under a week ago, Trump gave Musk a sendoff in the Oval Office in which Musk appeared with a visible black eye which he said came from his young son.