The once-amicable relationship between Donald Trump and Elon Musk has now descended into open hostility, with the former U.S. President issuing a stark warning to the tech billionaire over his potential support for Democrats in the 2026 midterm elections.
Speaking to media over the weekend, Trump dismissed any possibility of mending fences with Musk. &ldquo;I would assume so, yeah,&rdquo; he said when asked if their association was over. The comment follows Musk&rsquo;s scathing critique of a budget bill passed last month&mdash;a move that appears to have been the final straw for Trump.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m too busy doing other things,&rdquo; the former President remarked, underlining that he had extended significant regulatory and political support to Musk during his first term. &ldquo;I gave him a lot of breaks&hellip; I saved his life in my first administration. I have no intention of speaking to him.&rdquo;
Trump's irritation, however, has moved beyond rhetoric. In what appeared to be a veiled threat, he warned Musk of &ldquo;consequences&rdquo; if the Tesla and SpaceX CEO decides to back Democratic candidates in future elections. &ldquo;If he does, he&rsquo;ll have to pay the consequences for that,&rdquo; Trump said, stopping short of detailing what those repercussions might be. The statement carries weight, given Musk's companies benefit from extensive federal contracts.
The collapse of this high-profile alliance has unfolded rapidly. What began as criticism of fiscal policy escalated into a public row featuring insults, threats, and political calculations. Musk, who has previously contributed significantly to Trump-aligned causes&mdash;reportedly over $250 million&mdash;has in recent days taken a sharply confrontational stance.
On X (formerly Twitter), Musk unleashed a barrage of attacks, at one point suggesting Trump should be impeached and replaced by Vice President JD Vance. Vance, while reiterating his loyalty to Trump, attempted to dial down the tension, referring to Musk as &ldquo;an emotional guy&rdquo; reacting out of frustration.
Trump, on the other hand, has shown no signs of tempering his rhetoric. Describing Musk as &ldquo;CRAZY&rdquo; in a social media post, he hinted at cancelling federal contracts held by Musk&rsquo;s ventures. The conflict has even roped in Trump allies like Steve Bannon, who have called for investigations into Musk&rsquo;s immigration background and alleged drug use&mdash;a sharp escalation in political theatre.
The fallout signals more than just a personal feud. It marks the fragmentation of a once-strategic alliance between populist power and tech capital. Musk, long seen as a wild card in political circles, appears to be repositioning himself, potentially reshaping the billionaire class&rsquo;s engagement with electoral politics.
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US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk (image source social media)

Former allies turn adversaries as Trump threatens Elon Musk over potential Democratic support

Trump-Musk Rift Deepens Amid Threats and Political Tensions

Former allies turn adversaries as Trump threatens Elon Musk over potential Democratic support

June 8, 2025 | 09:08 IST