What began as a policy spat over President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB) spiraled into one of the most volatile online episodes in recent political memory—tech titan Elon Musk unleashed a storm of accusations against Trump, only to rapidly delete his posts as backlash mounted and allies pleaded for de-escalation.
From Policy Dispute to Personal Accusations
Musk initially criticized Trump’s sweeping OBBB tax-and-trade reform plan—intended to revitalize U.S. manufacturing and end corporate globalism—as a “disgusting abomination.” But his rhetoric soon took a personal and incendiary turn.
In a now-deleted X post, Musk wrote:
“Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!”
He followed it by posting a decades-old video clip of Trump with Jeffrey Epstein at a 1992 Mar-a-Lago event—a recycled piece of media long dismissed as irrelevant to any wrongdoing.
Musk also briefly endorsed a post calling for Trump’s impeachment and the installation of Senator J.D. Vance as his replacement—only to later erase that, too.
Backlash, Reversals, and Deleted Posts
The backlash was swift—even from Musk’s own supporters. One small account with 184 followers advised him to “cool off,” especially after Musk had threatened to decommission the Dragon capsule that NASA relies on for space missions.
Musk replied:
“Good advice. Ok, we won’t decommission Dragon.”
Investor Bill Ackman intervened on X as well, urging Musk and Trump to reconcile for the good of the country. Musk responded positively to that message.
By early Saturday, all of Musk’s inflammatory posts had vanished.
Trump: No Interest in Reconciliation
Despite Musk’s retreat, Trump made it clear on Friday that reconciliation is not on the table.
Speaking to ABC News, President Trump said:
“I’m not particularly interested in talking to Elon Musk. He’s a man who has lost his mind.”
Later, in a phone call with CNN’s Dana Bash, Trump added:
“I’m not even thinking about Elon. He’s got a problem. The poor guy’s got a problem. I wish him well.”
This all followed reports that Trump may revoke federal funding and contracts related to Musk’s companies—specifically SpaceX, which has become increasingly reliant on government partnerships for both defense and NASA missions.
A Feud That Reveals Deeper Fault Lines
This meltdown exposes a widening rift between two of the most high-profile figures on the American right. Once viewed as ideological allies pushing back against Big Government, Big Tech censorship, and globalist economics, Trump and Musk now seem firmly at odds—with OBBB and personal grievances driving the wedge deeper.
Musk’s decision to walk back his most aggressive statements suggests an awareness of the political cost—but whether the relationship can be repaired is another story.
Conclusion: A Ceasefire, But Not Peace
While Musk’s deleted posts may indicate a tactical retreat, the damage is done. Trump appears unmoved. Musk, once a vocal supporter of populist causes, now finds himself isolated from both MAGA-world and the political class he’s long criticized.
And with OBBB still moving through the Senate, the clash over policy—and personality—is far from over.
