Trump, Musk Trade Barbs Amid Break Over Policy Bill

The relationship ruptured in real time online, spurred by disagreement over the deficit impact of Trump’s policy bill.
Trump, Musk Trade Barbs Amid Break Over Policy Bill
President Donald Trump, joined by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, speaks to reporters in the Oval Office on May 30, 2025. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Jackson Richman
Joseph Lord
Updated:
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Simmering policy disagreements between President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk on June 5 devolved into open conflict after Trump criticized his former ally from the Oval Office.

After Musk ratcheted up his criticisms of Trump’s signature domestic policy bill, Trump told reporters on June 5 that he was disappointed with the Tesla CEO, alleging that his attacks were driven by the bill’s rollback of clean energy tax credits.
Jackson Richman is a Washington correspondent for The Epoch Times. In addition to Washington politics, he covers the intersection of politics and sports/sports and culture. He previously was a writer at Mediaite and Washington correspondent at Jewish News Syndicate. His writing has also appeared in The Washington Examiner. He is an alum of George Washington University.
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