Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk openly attacked Donald Trump after the former U.S. president warned of cutting federal benefits to Musk’s companies. Responding on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Musk posted, “Without me, Trump would have lost the election. Such ingratitude.”

His comments came shortly after Trump expressed anger over Musk’s criticism of his proposed spending bill. Musk’s post appeared to signal the official breakdown of their once-friendly relationship.

Trump Says He's 'Very Disappointed' in Musk

Meanwhile, Trump responded to Musk’s remarks during a press event in the Oval Office. He said he felt betrayed by Musk’s opposition to his bill. “I’m very disappointed because Elon knew the inner workings of this bill better than almost anybody sitting here,” Trump said.

He added, “Look, Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore. I was surprised.” Trump appeared visibly hurt as he talked about Musk’s unexpected shift in loyalty.

Musk Dismisses Trump’s Comments, Calls Bill an ‘Abomination’

Soon after Trump’s statement, Musk fired back again on X. He criticized the bill as a “disgusting abomination” and warned that it would dramatically increase the U.S. deficit.

A day later, Musk doubled down on his position. He called on Republican lawmakers to “kill the bill” and urged them to propose an alternative that “doesn’t massively grow the deficit.”

Trump Recalls Their Friendship’s Decline in Emotional Address

In an unusually personal moment, Trump shared more about his falling out with Musk. He recounted Musk’s farewell press conference, where the billionaire stood beside him with a black eye.

Trump joked, “You want a little makeup? We’ll get you a little makeup,” but Musk declined, saying he wanted to be himself. Trump noted, “He wants to be who he is,” and reflected on how that moment revealed Musk’s character.

Interestingly, Trump made these remarks while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz sat across from him. The chancellor had no choice but to silently listen as Trump detailed his personal drama with Musk.

Policy Disagreements Played a Major Role

Besides personal feelings, policy decisions also strained their relationship. Trump acknowledged that Musk may have felt upset after he withdrew a NASA leadership nominee that Musk supported.

Despite their previous collaboration, this move likely deepened the divide between them. Musk had been a key backer of Trump’s earlier space efforts, so the reversal stung.

Trump’s Spending Bill at the Center of the Feud

At the heart of the clash is Trump’s signature tax and spending bill. He often calls it a “big, beautiful bill” and views it as the foundation of his domestic agenda. The bill aims to extend Trump-era tax cuts and help Republicans win the 2026 midterm elections.

However, Musk strongly opposes it. He believes it would worsen the federal deficit. He also criticized the bill as being wasteful and lacking financial discipline.

Musk’s Influence and Trump’s Frustration

Musk’s claim that Trump wouldn’t have won without his help hit a nerve. His influence over millions of followers and his companies’ visibility made him an important ally. But now, the two appear to be headed for a permanent split.

Trump said, “All of a sudden, he had a problem,” referring to Musk’s abrupt change in attitude. He also emphasized that Musk once fully understood and supported the bill, making his new position all the more puzzling.

From Allies to Rivals

In the end, what began as a powerful partnership between a political leader and a tech tycoon has devolved into a bitter war of words.

Trump feels betrayed. Musk feels unappreciated. Their fallout highlights how political and business alliances can unravel quickly—especially when power, money, and ego collide.