The once-legendary alliance is broken, but the public feud rages on
Not long ago, Donald Trump and Elon Musk, the «Big Two», looked like an unstoppable alliance of like-minded titans. They exchanged flurries of compliments across public platforms, their mutual admiration bordering on a bromance. However, two alpha males cannot share the same space, especially after Musk moved into the Secretary of Defense’s office in the White House.
What followed was a heated war of words on their respective social media platforms, X (formerly Twitter) and Truth Social. The exchange grew personal and vicious, with barbs that stung the pride of two men not known for modesty. Many observers concluded that the partnership was not only over but also irreparably shattered.
Tensions had been brewing. Musk had recently stepped down as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and had criticized a sweeping federal spending bill under discussion in the Senate. The bill included tax breaks for corporations, exemptions for overtime pay and welfare benefits, increased defense and border control funding, and a raised national debt ceiling of $4 trillion.
Musk blasted it as «outrageous, disgusting, pork-filled… shame on those who voted for it». The phrase «pork-filled» — Washington slang for bloated with unnecessary spending — signaled his frustration. Analysts believe Musk’s outrage was driven by the bill’s reduction of tax benefits for his businesses, including Tesla and other electric ventures.
With a hint of schadenfreude, Politico, citing an anonymous White House staffer, reported that Musk had “left the White House to focus on his floundering business empire».
After receiving a symbolic golden key to the White House upon stepping down, Musk assured the public that he remained a «friend» of Trump. However, the feud soon escalated. Musk accused Trump of covering up his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and implied that Trump’s name appears in sealed court documents that were never made public.
On June 5, Musk dropped a bombshell on X: «Time to drop a real nuke: Donald Trump is in the Epstein files. That’s why they haven’t been released». The post was later deleted, but not before the damage was done. Their public spat had gone nuclear.
Musk then reminded his followers that he had helped finance Trump’s election campaign and suggested impeachment. He also endorsed Vice President J.D. Vance as Trump’s rightful successor. Trump fired back on Truth Social, calling Musk “insane” and demanding that his companies be stripped of federal subsidies — a threat with potentially devastating consequences for Musk’s enterprises.
Musk’s resignation had long been anticipated, especially after his high-profile failure to deliver on a campaign promise to cut federal spending by $2 trillion annually. That target was halved, and by April, it was reduced to a mere $150 billion. In effect, it was a policy defeat.
His attempts to downsize the bureaucracy also sparked fierce institutional resistance. In February, Musk demanded weekly performance reports from all federal agencies, a move that was outright rejected by intelligence services who cited concerns about secrecy and bureaucratic overload. It later emerged that some civil servants had been using AI to generate these reports, and that one Agriculture Department employee had allegedly submitted barbecue sauce recipes disguised as official documents.
It seemed that DOGE was sabotaged from within.
Meanwhile, Tesla, Musk’s flagship company, has seen its stock price plunge 27% since the beginning of the year. Add to that three failed Starship rocket launches, and the fallout has taken a toll on Musk’s reputation as a visionary entrepreneur. Nevertheless, Musk has pledged to focus on his long-term dream of colonizing Mars. The first unmanned ships designed by Musk are scheduled to launch to the Red Planet in 2027.
Is there another reason for his resignation? Musk’s inability to get along with Trump’s inner circle. He reportedly clashed with nearly every key figure in the administration, earning him the nickname «loose cannon below deck» from insiders. His open support for conservative parties in Europe also made him a target of globalist factions within the U.S. government, which viewed his politics with suspicion.
Trump’s personality didn’t help matters. According to Jungian psychology, Trump is a classic «sensing extrovert». He is a hands-on, facts-first type who thrives on activity and face-to-face interaction.. However, viewed through the lens of Hans Eysenck’s theory, Trump fits the mold of a «neurotic extrovert»: impulsive, excitable, egocentric, and prone to emotional outbursts. These traits make compromise difficult and relationships fraught, as was on full display during his first presidential term when he famously fell out with many of his own appointees.
In his scathing tirade, Musk criticized Trump’s narcissism and lamented that he had once hoped America would gain «a rational leader» but instead got a cult of personality.
Of course, there’s another theory: that this public breakup is a calculated performance.
As U.S. political analyst Rafael Ordukhanyan notes, «Greenland, Canada, Ukraine, the Middle East, the Pacific — nothing but noise. Big promises, but no real action. Maybe this feud is just a distraction».
He argues that the Trump–Musk drama may have simply diverted public attention toward a headline-grabbing squabble. However, the conflict took on a life of its own once both men started exchanging real insults.
There’s also a more strategic possibility. Musk’s closeness to Trump came at a cost: a reported $34 billion in lost value. By distancing himself now, Musk could recoup his financial losses and rebrand himself as more palatable to moderate Republicans who tolerate Trump but don’t embrace him. This would preserve Musk’s access to political power going forward.
Conversely, his public endorsement of J.D. Vance, who is widely viewed as a potential GOP presidential candidate in 2028, solidifies Musk’s status as a kingmaker. If Vance rises to power, Musk could gain influence over federal investment policy and secure favorable tax treatment for his companies.
Whatever the true motive, one thing is clear: the show was a success. Neither of these alpha males is short on ego, confidence — or vocabulary.