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Elon Musk and President Donald Trump, once known for their public camaraderie, are now entangled in a heated feud. Their clash erupted Thursday over the Republican mega-bill pushing Trump's major domestic policy initiatives, escalating into personal attacks on social media. The spat included Trump threatening to cut off federal subsidies to Musk’s companies, Tesla and SpaceX, and Musk making unsubstantiated claims tying Trump to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

The fallout marks a surprising end to an alliance between the tech billionaire and the president that had remained strong longer than anticipated. After years of supporting Democratic candidates, including Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden, Musk emerged in 2024 as a leading donor to Republican causes, contributing nearly $300 million to support Trump's campaign.

Their relationship saw Musk becoming a central figure in Trump's circle, featuring prominently at public events and even leading the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency. This bond was displayed vividly when Musk endorsed Trump after a failed assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, and later created a super PAC to promote what he termed "principles that made America great."

In mid-2024, Musk further cemented his support by hosting an interview with Trump on X and proposing a "government efficiency commission." He also actively campaigned alongside Trump, making appearances at rallies, including one where he donned a custom black "Make America Great Again" hat and described himself as "dark MAGA."

Musk's involvement peaked during the 2024 election, attending election night at Mar-a-Lago and celebrating Trump’s victory with an AI-generated image saluting the American flag. Subsequently, Trump appointed Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to co-lead a Department of Government Efficiency, where they proposed drastic federal workforce and spending cuts.

Upon Trump's inauguration in January 2025, Musk was at the forefront of Trump's initiatives, quickly becoming the visible face of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, despite it not being an officially created federal department. Musk’s influence prompted Trump's public endorsement of DOGE’s work, although concerns about conflicts of interest with Musk's business dealings persisted.

As time progressed, tensions surfaced with Musk criticizing the Republican mega-bill in May 2025, prompting a fierce reaction from Trump. By June 2025, their disagreements reached a boiling point with Trump and Musk exchanging heated accusations on social media, culminating in Musk calling for Trump’s impeachment.

The fiery exchange marks a dramatic chapter in the once-strong alliance between Musk and Trump, highlighting the volatile nature of political partnerships.