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Trump-Musk, end of bromance: public breakup after accusations and tensions over bill

From collaboration on Doge to social media frostiness: the billionaire accuses, the president responds. The crisis after months of political alliance and record funding

After almost a year of intense political alliance, the relationship between US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk has publicly soured, amid vitriolic posts and mutual accusations. What began as a ‘bromance’ built on trust, visibility and prestigious appointments has turned into a heated confrontation, culminating in the breakup on 5 June.

The relationship between the two took shape on 13 July 2024, when Musk – a few hours after the attempted assassination of Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania – expressed his support on X. From that moment on, the founder of Tesla and SpaceX became one of the Republican candidate’s biggest supporters, donating over $250 million to his election campaign and securing a key role in the future administration: the leadership of the Doge, the newly created Department of Government Efficiency.

Musk had also participated in public events and rallies, wearing Trump campaign symbols and reinforcing the image of an unprecedented collaboration between politics and business. Until the turning point on 28 May, when the entrepreneur announced his withdrawal from the administration, speaking of a return to his priorities: Mars, robotics and electric mobility.

A few days later, the climate heated up. On 3 June, Musk harshly attacked a spending bill supported by Republicans, calling it ‘a disgusting abomination’ and threatening a ‘political clean-up’ in 2026. President Trump, initially conciliatory, then admitted that his relationship with Musk ‘is no longer great’.

Musk’s response came in a direct post on X: ‘Without me, Trump would have lost the election. The Democrats would have control of the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate.’ These words mark a breaking point that is difficult to repair, at least for now.

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