In a surprising turn of events, Donald Trump announced on Saturday that his relationship with billionaire donor Elon Musk is officially over. This declaration came with a stern warning about the potential consequences if Musk chooses to support U.S. Democrats who oppose Trump's tax and spending bill. In a telephone interview with NBC News, Trump refrained from specifying what these consequences might entail, emphasizing that he has no desire to repair their fractured relationship.
During the interview, Trump stated, "I have no intention of speaking to him." Despite the tension between the two, Trump indicated that he hadn't considered ending U.S. government contracts with Musk's StarLink satellite internet service or SpaceX rocket launch companies. The fallout between Musk and Trump escalated earlier this week when Musk publicly criticized Trump's bill, labeling it a "disgusting abomination." Musk's opposition has complicated the legislative process in Congress, where Republicans hold slim majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The contentious bill narrowly passed the House last month and is currently under consideration in the Senate. Nonpartisan analysts predict that the bill could add a staggering $2.4 trillion to the existing $36.2 trillion U.S. debt over the next decade, raising concerns among fiscal hawks within the Republican Party. In the midst of this, Musk has called for the formation of a new political party to better represent the "80% in the middle," further complicating the political landscape.
Despite the challenges, Trump expressed confidence that the bill would pass before the July 4 Independence Day holiday. "People that were going to vote for it are now enthusiastically going to vote for it, and we expect it to pass," he stated during his conversation with NBC.
Since beginning his second term as president on January 20, Trump has received strong support from Republican lawmakers. Although some members of the party have voiced concerns about certain decisions, none have voted against his policies or nominations to date. This unwavering support highlights the challenges that dissenting voices within the party face.
In a notable development, Musk has deleted several social media posts that were critical of Trump, including one that appeared to support impeachment. This move suggests a desire to de-escalate their public feud, which intensified earlier this week. During Trump's first term, the House, then controlled by Democrats, voted to impeach him twice, but he was acquitted both times by the Senate.
People close to Musk have indicated that his anger towards Trump has begun to subside, and there are expectations that he might seek to mend their relationship. One deleted post from Musk responded to a user's claim that Trump should be impeached, indicating a shift in his public stance. On a recent podcast, Republican Senator JD Vance criticized Musk's remarks about Trump, calling them a "huge mistake." Vance expressed hope that Musk would eventually reconcile with the president, referring to him as an "incredible entrepreneur."
Trump is set to attend an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fight card in New Jersey on Saturday, marking his third such event since his second election victory. Notably, Musk is not expected to be present at this event, signaling a continued rift between the two influential figures.
As the world's richest man, Musk has played a significant role in funding Trump's political endeavors, contributing nearly $300 million in the last U.S. elections, which helped Republicans maintain control of the House and regain the Senate. Just a week prior to their feud, Trump publicly praised Musk for his leadership at the Department of Government Efficiency. However, Musk's efforts resulted in only a minor reduction in spending, falling far short of his ambitious goal to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget.
As the political landscape continues to shift, the relationship between Trump and Musk remains a focal point of interest, with potential implications for both their futures in American politics.
