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Elon Musk's call on social media platform X for the impeachment of President Trump has marked an unmissable turning point in their relationship, according to former Trump adviser Steve Bannon. The escalating conflict between Musk and Trump has captured attention this week after Musk publicly criticized the president's significant multi-trillion dollar spending bill. In retaliation, Trump has threatened to sever federal government contracts with Musk's enterprises, including SpaceX.

Bannon, who served as CEO of Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and later as his chief strategist, told NPR's Morning Edition that Musk's actions have crossed a critical line. Bannon, known for his right-wing populist views, noted that there is no possibility of reconciliation after Musk's recent actions. This feud, he emphasized, now requires serious attention from a national security standpoint.

The roots of the friction appear to stem from an incident in December when Musk requested an extension to remain a special government employee, which was denied by Trump. Bannon explained that this denial was likely the spark that ignited the ongoing dispute. Axios had reported Musk's request, though NPR has not independently verified this information.

Adding fuel to the fire, Trump has accused Musk of failing to deliver on his promise to uncover a trillion dollars in government waste, fraud, and abuse, further straining their relationship. Bannon, commenting on Musk's demeanor, compared him to an "11-year-old child" who did not handle the rejection well.

The tension has been intensified by Bannon's allegations about Musk’s connections with the Chinese Communist Party and his legal issues. He highlighted Musk’s reported drug use, which was covered by The New York Times, although NPR has not confirmed this report.

Despite billionaire Bill Ackman's suggestion for reconciliation and reports of a scheduled call between Musk and Trump, Bannon remains adamant that the relationship has reached a point of no return. He equates Musk’s calls for impeachment and comparisons to the Epstein files as actions that have irreversibly damaged their relationship.

As Trump stands firm, declaring he won't speak to Musk "for a while," the conflict underscores the unpredictable dynamics within political alliances and the volatile intersection of business and politics in the current administration.