From Allies to Enemies: Elon Turns on Trump

Just weeks ago, Musk was in the Oval Office with his son, taking photos and soaking up praise. He had poured millions into Republican races, funded Trump’s campaign, and cast himself as a GOP kingmaker.

By June 2025, the tone had shifted. The breaking point came when Trump declined to give Musk a formal role in his administration and publicly criticized several of Musk's policy positions, including his stance on immigration and government spending cuts. 

(Reuters: Nathan Howard)

Feeling sidelined after expecting to be a key advisor, Musk erupted online, claiming he was the reason Republicans won the House and Senate. “Without me, Trump would have lost the election,” he posted on X. He followed with a barrage of attacks, calling Trump ungrateful, predicting a recession, and even accusing him of appearing in the Epstein files.

But while Musk may have expected GOP leaders to back him, the response was swift, and not in his favor.

“You’ve lost your damn mind,” said Rep. Troy Nehls. “Nobody elected Elon Musk,” added Rep. Jeff Van Drew. One GOP lawmaker told Axios: “Elon can burn $5 million in a primary, but if Trump endorses someone, it’s a wasted $5 million.”

Musk has long tried to influence Washington with his fortune and threats of funding primary challengers. But that strategy is wearing thin. Even Republicans who align with him on policy say Trump’s support matters more.

The feud escalated into a full-blown Twitter war when Trump fired back on his Truth Social platform, calling Musk "a fake genius" and questioning his business acumen. Musk responded by temporarily suspending several pro-Trump accounts on X, including verified supporters with millions of followers. The digital battlefield became increasingly petty, with Musk posting memes mocking Trump's appearance and Trump countering with attacks on Tesla's stock price and government subsidies. The back-and-forth dominated social media for days, with each post generating thousands of responses and further dividing their respective fan bases.

Musk’s attempts to disrupt Washington—through flashy companies and social media takeovers—have increasingly isolated him. While Trump continues to energize the GOP base, Musk is learning the limits of wealth-based influence. This isn’t new. In April, he spent $25 million backing a Wisconsin judicial candidate—who lost by 10 points. His latest threat to sink Trump’s tax bill may meet the same fate.

And despite all the noise, Trump barely blinked. He dismissed Musk’s attacks with a calm statement of disappointment, and pointed out that he would have won Pennsylvania regardless of Musk’s money. 

“I was always surprised Biden didn’t cut off his subsidies,” Trump added pointedly.

Musk still has a few allies. Rep. Thomas Massie said he sided with math over politics and praised Musk’s technical genius. But that support is rare.

Most Republicans, choosing between Trump’s political clout and Musk’s volatility, are making their choice clear: Trump still leads the party—and Musk’s money isn’t changing that.