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A public rift between President Donald Trump and former ally Elon Musk escalated sharply on Thursday, as both men exchanged personal attacks over a controversial Republican tax cut and spending bill. The dispute follows Musk’s departure from the Trump administration and comes amid growing scrutiny over the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a controversial initiative Musk helped lead.
President Trump, promoting what he calls the “Big Beautiful Bill,” criticized Musk for turning on him after the Tesla and SpaceX CEO denounced the legislation as “a disgusting abomination” that would push the U.S. into “debt slavery.” The bill proposes a sweeping $1.6 trillion reduction in federal spending alongside significant tax cuts. Trump warned of severe tax increases if the bill fails.
Musk, who served as head of DOGE until May 30, responded by accusing Trump of ingratitude and threatening to dismantle key SpaceX operations. “If this bill passes, America is finished,” Musk posted on his social media platform X, urging his followers to lobby lawmakers to “kill the bill.”
In a series of posts, Musk also alleged Trump’s name appears in sealed documents related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a claim that further inflamed tensions. Trump retaliated by threatening to cancel Musk’s government contracts, suggesting it would save “billions and billions” of taxpayer dollars.
Musk replied that SpaceX would begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft “immediately,” intensifying the confrontation.
“I don’t mind Elon turning against me, but he should have done so months ago,” President Trump said. “This is one of the greatest bills ever presented to Congress. It’s a record cut in expenses—$1.6 trillion—and the biggest tax cut ever. If this bill doesn’t pass, there will be a 68% tax increase, and things are far worse than that. I didn’t create this mess, I’m just here to fix it. This puts our country on a path of greatness. Make America Great Again!”
The dispute comes amid broader fallout over DOGE — a temporary government reorganization agency launched by Trump to cut federal bureaucracy. Initially modeled on the U.S. Digital Service, DOGE has been credited by the Trump administration with saving $180 billion. However, watchdog groups and independent analyses estimate the program may cost taxpayers up to $135 billion in 2025 due to productivity losses, lawsuits, and federal agency disruptions.
DOGE has been linked to massive layoffs, immigration enforcement actions, and the cancellation of affordable housing and foreign aid contracts. Critics argue the initiative is ideologically driven, with some likening its actions to an attempted administrative coup.
The exact nature of Musk’s role within DOGE remains disputed. While the White House described him as a senior advisor, Trump referred to him as the head of the agency. Legal experts argue that Musk likely required Senate confirmation under the Appointments Clause, a step that was never taken.
DOGE’s initiatives have led to severe impacts on agencies like the Social Security Administration and the IRS. Treasury officials anticipate a $500 billion drop in tax revenue for 2025, attributing it in part to DOGE-related workforce cuts.