The relationship between President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk has dramatically unraveled in recent days, marking the end of one of the most high-profile political partnerships in modern history. From campaign endorsement to government collaboration and now public feud, here’s how their relationship evolved and ultimately collapsed.
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July 2024: The Endorsement That Started Everything
Musk formally endorsed Trump on July 13, 2024, after Trump’s attempted assassination during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. “I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery,” Musk said. This moment marked the beginning of their political alliance.
In the months that followed, he constantly appeared by Trump’s side, while quietly putting together a super PAC to funnel billions into the campaign with other Silicon Valley friends. Musk, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO, worked for Trump’s DOGE effort after spending over $250 million helping to get him elected.
January-February 2025: The DOGE Era Begins
Following Trump’s inauguration in January 2025, Musk was appointed to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Trump and Musk appeared together in the Oval Office, accompanied by Musk’s young son, to defend the work of DOGE, which has cut a swath through federal agencies.
The partnership appeared strong during this period, with both leaders presenting a united front on government efficiency initiatives. Musk’s 130-day mandate as a special government employee in the Trump administration was set to expire around May 30.
May 2025: Signs of Strain Emerge
Despite public appearances of unity, tensions began surfacing in the spring. DOGE may end after only 130 days as Musk’s work at DOGE has become increasingly unpopular among some of the President’s constituents.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk speaks alongside U.S. President Donald Trump to reporters in the Oval Office of the White House on May 30, 2025 in Washington, DC. This would be one of their final collaborative public appearances.
Musk, who oversaw the U.S. DOGE Service, wrote on X that his scheduled time as a special government employee had come to an end.
June 2025: The Public Breakdown
The relationship dramatically deteriorated in early June over Trump’s spending bill. Days later, Musk began railing against the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” saying it would drive up the federal budget deficit and undo the cost-cutting work of DOGE.
June 5, 2025 Sniping escalated into all-out war between the billionaire and the president… In the last two days, the once powerful relationship between President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk has unraveled as they took jabs at each other from their respective social media sites, X and Truth Social.
Thursday’s online brawl marked an escalation of Musk’s public opposition to Trump’s budget bill this week.
The Financial Fallout
The public feud had immediate market consequences. Tesla shares closed down 14 percent, losing about $150 billion in value. This dramatic stock decline highlighted how their personal relationship had become intertwined with broader economic implications.
What Led to the Final Break?
The core disagreement centered on fiscal policy and government spending. Musk, having led cost-cutting efforts through DOGE, opposed Trump’s expansive spending bill, viewing it as contradictory to their efficiency goals. This fundamental policy disagreement exposed deeper tensions about the direction of the administration’s fiscal approach.
One day after airing his criticism of Trump’s bill, Musk leaves the White House. He thanks the president for the opportunity to run DOGE.
Looking Forward: End of an Era
The Trump-Musk partnership represented a unique convergence of traditional politics and tech innovation. Their collaboration on DOGE aimed to revolutionize government efficiency, but philosophical differences over spending ultimately proved insurmountable.
For Trump, losing Musk’s support means losing a key tech industry ally and significant financial backing. For Musk, the break represents a return to his more independent political stance, though potentially at significant personal and business cost.
The rapid deterioration from close allies to public adversaries illustrates the volatile nature of political partnerships in the Trump era. What began as a mutually beneficial alliance has ended in a very public breakdown, leaving both figures to navigate the aftermath of their high-profile split.
As both continue their respective paths forward, their relationship timeline serves as a case study in how quickly political alliances can form and dissolve in modern American politics.
