Trump Warns Elon Musk of 'Very Serious Consequences'
Former US President Donald Trump has delivered a pointed warning to Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, cautioning him about facing "very serious consequences" should he decide to back Democratic candidates. This latest clash stems from Musk's public criticism of a recent GOP budget bill, which has ignited tensions between the two prominent figures.
From Ally to Adversary: The Fallout Unfolds
Once a significant supporter of Trump's 2024 campaign with contributions exceeding $250 million, Elon Musk's relationship with the former president has taken a sharp downturn. Musk, who also held a brief government role focusing on efficiency and budget cuts during Trump’s administration, voiced strong opposition to the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" passed by the House. He warned that the GOP spending plan could be financially unsustainable and trigger an economic slump.
Trump, visibly disappointed, responded by emphasizing the closeness Musk had with the bill's details and expressing regret over the public criticism. "I’ve helped Elon a lot," Trump noted, underscoring the depth of their previous alliance.
Musk's Retaliation and Trump's Rebuttal
In retaliation, Musk took to his social platform, X, calling for Trump's impeachment and resurfacing accusations regarding Trump's connections to Jeffrey Epstein. Although Musk later deleted many of these posts, the damage was done.
Trump brushed aside these claims, calling them "old news" and citing statements from Epstein’s lawyer to deny any involvement. When asked about mending fences, Trump was curt: "No. I would assume so, yeah. I have no intention of speaking with Musk again. I’m too busy doing other things."
Accusations and Possible Retaliation
Trump condemned Musk for showing "disrespect to the office of the President," warning that such behavior was unacceptable. Despite pressure from political allies to investigate Musk's enterprises, Trump revealed no immediate plans for federal scrutiny, stating it was "not something that’s on top of my mind right now."
However, via his social platform earlier in the week, Trump hinted at potential retribution by suggesting the government could save "billions and billions of dollars" by ending Musk's governmental subsidies and contracts. He remarked, "I was always surprised that Biden didn’t do it!"
The GOP's Budget Bill and Political Outlook
Regardless of this personal rift, Trump remained optimistic about the GOP’s budget bill, predicting its Senate passage before July 4. He lauded the Republican Party, stating, "The Republican Party has never been united like this before. Actually, more so than it was three days ago."
Key Takeaways:
- Elon Musk criticized the GOP’s recent budget bill, triggering a public dispute with Trump.
- Trump warned Musk of "very serious consequences" should he back Democrats.
- The feud dissolved their longstanding allyship, with no intent for reconciliation.
- Trump suggested ending Musk’s government subsidies as a form of retaliation.
- Despite clashes, Trump remains confident about GOP unity and legislative success.
