As soon as a key member of President Donald Trump’s inside circle, a serious marketing campaign donor and a scene-stealing presence at Cupboard conferences, Elon Musk’s relationship with the president has deteriorated right into a bitter public feud since leaving the White Home final week.
Musk departed from his extremely seen White Home function main the Division of Authorities Effectivity after reaching his 130-day restrict as a particular authorities worker. The confrontation started shortly after Musk left the White Home and voiced his opposition to Trump’s One Huge Stunning Invoice Act, which handed the Home final month by a single vote and is now within the Senate.
Here is a rundown of the connection between Trump and Musk — and the way it devolved.
President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk watch the launch of the sixth check flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket in Brownsville, Texas, Nov. 19, 2024.
Brandon Bell through Reuters, FILE
July 13, 2024
Within the wake of the tried assassination of Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, Musk posts a video of a bloodied Trump pumping his fist within the air on X and writes, “I absolutely endorse President Trump and hope for his fast restoration.”
Aug. 12, 2024
Musk hosts an interview with Trump on X. The occasion is plagued with technical difficulties, however sees a reported viewers of 1.3 million.
Musk praises Trump for the way he dealt with the assassination try and blasted Trump’s opponent, then-Vice President Kamala Harris, however he pushes again on a few of Trump’s claims about local weather change.
Oct. 5, 2024
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk jumps on stage as he joins former President and Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump throughout a marketing campaign rally in Butler, Pa., on Oct. 5, 2024.
Jim Watson/AFP through Getty Pictures, FILE
Musk appears with Trump at a second rally in Butler, the location of the sooner assassination try.
Musk urges individuals to register to vote and made ominous warnings in regards to the penalties of the upcoming election.
“If they do not, this would be the final election. That is my prediction,” Musk says, echoing sentiments much like Trump’s.
Later, Federal Election Fee filings present Musk spent over $270 million of his personal cash by means of two tremendous PACs that promoted Trump’s candidacy and different Republicans within the 2024 election.
Nov. 5, 2024
Musk spends election night time at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago membership in Florida — and stays there for the subsequent a number of days, weighing in on key staffing selections.
Musk can also be current for a minimum of two telephone calls Trump had as president-elect, together with a name with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Nov. 12, 2024
Per week after the election, Trump announces that Musk — and former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy — would lead a newly created “Division of Authorities Effectivity.”
“Collectively, these two fantastic Individuals will pave the best way for my Administration to dismantle Authorities Forms, slash extra rules, lower wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Companies,” Trump stated in a press release.
Ramaswamy would later step down from the function to run for governor of Ohio.
Later that month, Trump joined Musk in Texas for a launch of SpaceX’s Starship rocket.
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk cheers as President Donald Trump speaks after being sworn in because the forty seventh President within the US Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, 2025.
Saul Loeb, Pool through AFP through Getty Pictures
Jan. 20, 2025
Musk, and different tech CEOs, take ringside seats at Trump’s inauguration.
President Donald Trump speaks to Elon Musk’s son within the Oval Workplace of the White Home in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 11, 2025.
Jim Watson/AFP through Getty Pictures, FILE
Feb. 11, 2025
In an look within the Oval Workplace, Musk defends his aggressive cost-cutting efforts throughout the federal authorities, which by that time has prompted a slew of federal lawsuits.
Musk’s son “X,” who clambers across the Resolute Desk as his father and the president tackle reporters, takes the highlight.
Feb. 26, 2025
Musk takes center stage at Trump’s first Cupboard assembly of his second time period. On the time, DOGE’s actions had been the topic of controversy — from efforts to fireside federal workers to an e mail demanding federal staff listing their weekly accomplishments.
When Musk is requested by a reporter if any Cupboard members are sad in regards to the e mail ultimatum, Trump interrupts.
Elon Musk and Tulsi Gabbard, Director of Nationwide Intelligence hear as President Donald Trump speaks throughout a cupboard assembly on the White Home, April 30, 2025, in Washington.
Evan Vucci/AP, FILE
“Is anyone sad with Elon?” Trump stated to the group, lots of whom began laughing. “If you’re, we’ll throw him out of right here. Is anyone sad? They’ve loads of respect for Elon,” he stated as Cupboard members began applauding.
On the assembly, Musk, in a black “Make America Nice Once more” hat — regardless of not being an official member of the Cupboard — is the primary to talk.
March 6, 2025
At one other assembly just a few weeks later, Trump tells members of the Cupboard they are in charge of the companies and departments they oversee — not Musk.
Musk later posts on X that the assembly was “very productive.”
The assembly got here as some Cupboard secretaries had privately expressed frustration over Musk’s efforts to scale back the dimensions and scope of their companies.
Trump later tells reporters he warned the Cupboard members that if they do not make obligatory cuts to scale back “bloat” within the federal authorities, Musk and DOGE would take over.
March 11, 2025
President Donald Trump and White Home Senior Advisor, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk ship remarks subsequent to a Tesla Mannequin S on the South Garden of the White Home, on March 11, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Pictures, FILE
Amid a sliding backside line at Musk’s Tesla automotive firm and a string of vandalism and different assaults on the vehicles, Trump hosts a showcase of the Teslas on the White Home garden.
“I simply need individuals to know which you could’t be penalized for being a patriot,” Trump tells reporters throughout a photo-op with Musk and his autos. “Folks ought to be going wild, and so they love the product.”
The president, who climbs into the entrance seat of a Tesla for pictures, tells reporters he is purchased one of many autos himself.
Might 27, 2025
In an interview with CBS News, Musk first airs his grievances with Trump’s signature invoice: “I used to be disenchanted to see the large spending invoice, frankly, which will increase the funds deficit, not simply decreases it, and undermines the work that the DOGE group is doing,” Musk says.
Might 29, 2025
Musk declares on X he is departing the White Home. As a “particular authorities worker,” he’s restricted to a 130-day appointment.
At that time, White Home officers insist Musk is leaving on good phrases and would proceed to function an unofficial adviser to the president.
Musk posts on X his due to Trump, saying his DOGE group will proceed to work all through the federal government.
“As my scheduled time as a Particular Authorities Worker involves an finish, I wish to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the chance to scale back wasteful spending,” Musk posts. He stated the DOGE mission “will solely strengthen over time because it turns into a lifestyle all through the federal government.”
Might 31, 2025
Tesla CEO Elon Musk and President Donald Trump chortle as they hearken to a query from reporters within the Oval Workplace of the White Home, on Might 30, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Pictures
Throughout temporary remarks from the Oval Workplace at a farewell look, Musk tells reporters he believes the Division of Authorities Effectivity will “solely develop stronger over time.”
By that time, Musk’s group claimed DOGE has up to now lower $175 billion by means of asset gross sales, canceled contracts and leases and workforce reductions — a determine that falls significantly in need of the $1 trillion aim.
Musk, sporting a bruise he stated he obtained after he requested his 5-year-old son to punch him within the face, stated he seems to be ahead to being again within the Oval Workplace.
“I look ahead to persevering with to be a good friend and adviser to the president,” he stated.
June 3, 2025
Musk issues a flurry of posts on X attacking the One Huge Stunning Invoice Act because it awaits a vote within the Senate. “I am sorry, however I simply cannot stand it anymore. This huge, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending invoice is a disgusting abomination,” Musk writes. “Disgrace on those that voted for it: you recognize you probably did incorrect. You recognize it.”
Musk claims the invoice would “massively improve” the federal funds deficit.
June 4, 2025
Musk continues his assaults on Trump’s invoice with a sequence of posts on social media, instructing followers to name members of Congress to “KILL THE BILL.”
June 5, 2025
The confrontation between Elon Musk and Trump erupts into a full-on feud, with Musk slamming Trump for “ingratitude” over the 2024 election, agreeing with a name for his impeachment, knocking the president’s signature laws and even claiming that Trump is within the Epstein information, referring to accused intercourse trafficker Jeffrey Epstein
Trump, talking on tv from the Oval Workplace, responds to Musk’s barrage of criticism, saying he’s “disenchanted” in Musk.
Later in a social media put up, Trump states: “Elon was ‘carrying skinny,’ I requested him to go away, I took away his EV Mandate that pressured everybody to purchase Electrical Automobiles that no person else wished (that he knew for months I used to be going to do!), and he simply went CRAZY!”
Trump goes on to say the “easiest method to save cash” could be to “terminate Elon’s governmental subsidies and contracts.”
