U.S. President Donald Trump is not interested in speaking with billionaire Elon Musk, a White House official confirmed Friday, as their public feud over Trump’s controversial tax-cut bill intensified.
The dispute, which erupted Thursday on social media platforms like Trump’s Truth Social and Musk’s X, marks a stark end to their once-close alliance.
Musk, who recently stepped down as head of the Department of Government Efficiency, denounced the bill as a “disgusting abomination” that would balloon the nation’s $36.2 trillion debt.
Trump, in response, expressed disappointment, stating, “Look, Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore.”
The conflict escalated when Musk claimed on X, “Without me, Trump would have lost the election,” referencing his nearly $300 million in campaign support.
Trump retaliated, threatening to terminate government subsidies and contracts for Musk’s companies, including SpaceX, prompting Musk to briefly announce decommissioning the Dragon spacecraft, vital for U.S. missions to the International Space Station.
He later retracted the threat.
The feud rattled markets, with Tesla shares plummeting 14% Thursday, erasing $150 billion in value, though they recovered slightly Friday.
Nonpartisan analysts warn the bill could add $2.4 trillion to $5 trillion to the national debt, deepening Republican Party divisions and threatening the bill’s Senate prospects.
While billionaire Bill Ackman urged reconciliation, to which Musk responded, “You’re not wrong,” no immediate detente appears likely.
A White House official stated, “There are no calls on the books, at least not now,” though another expressed hope to “de-escalate a very unfortunate situation.”
The ongoing war of words between Trump and Musk, both known for their combative social media presence, continues to reverberate, with potential implications for Republican unity and economic stability.