2024: Musk openly supported Trump following an attempted assassination on Trump. Musk contributed significantly to Trump’s re-election campaign and was appointed head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

April 2025: Musk stepped down from DOGE amid Tesla’s financial struggles. 

May 2025: Musk criticsed Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” for increasing the national deficit, leading to a series of retaliatory remarks from Trump. 

June 5, 2025: Musk had called for Trump’s impeachment. He also suggested that the president was withholding documents related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein due to his own potential involvement.

Musk posted on X: “Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out.”

The White House dismissed Musk’s claims as baseless. Trump suggested Musk’s motives are self-serving, i.e. his opposition to Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” stemmed from personal financial interests, particularly regarding electric vehicle (EV) subsidies. Trump stated: “Elon’s upset because we took the [electric vehicle] mandate… He only developed a problem when he found out I would cut the EV mandate.”

He further claimed that Musk “went CRAZY” over the EV changes.

Musk countered Trump’s remarks by stressing his contribution to Trump’s electoral success, stating: “Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate.” He added: “Such ingratitude.”

Amid the feud, Trump suggested terminating federal subsidies and contracts benefiting Musk’s companies. In response, Musk challenged Trump by stating: “Go ahead, make my day.”

Later in the day, Musk expressed a willingness to de-escalate his public spat with Trump.