In a surprising turn of events, Donald Trump is reportedly intensifying his personal feud with Elon Musk, as revealed by author Michael Wolff. During a recent appearance on The Daily Beast Podcast, Wolff disclosed that Trump has been making phone calls to associates, expressing his grievances about Musk and accusing the billionaire of drug use. This revelation adds a new layer to the ongoing tension between the former president and the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX.
According to Wolff, Trump has been openly discussing Musk's alleged drug habits during these phone calls. “I was tracking some Trump phone calls on Monday night,” Wolff said, elaborating on his connections with individuals close to Trump. He noted, “Trump speaks to them, and then they speak to other people,” indicating a network of communication that amplifies Trump's opinions. Wolff emphasized that Trump consistently shares the same sentiments during these conversations, providing insight into his thoughts.
This week, Musk reignited the feud by publicly criticizing Trump's proposed spending bill, which has reportedly frustrated the former president. In response, Trump issued a public warning, suggesting that Musk’s government subsidies could be at risk, potentially forcing him to return “back home to South Africa.” This threat highlights the escalating nature of their rivalry.
Wolff recounted Trump’s claims about Musk during these phone calls, stating, “He’s like, calling people to say, ‘do you think Elon is crazy?’” Trump allegedly went on to assert, “‘He takes drugs all the time. You know that, don’t you? You know, The New York Times wrote about it. They said, he takes drugs.’” Wolff added that Trump claimed to have provided information to The New York Times regarding Musk's alleged drug use, although it remains unclear whether anyone from Trump's team was indeed the source of that story.
The New York Times has maintained that its reporting on Musk's behavior was based on interviews with numerous individuals familiar with him, as well as private messages obtained by their reporters. As of now, the White House has not provided any comments on the matter.
Trump's communications director, Steven Cheung, has previously dismissed Wolff's claims, labeling him a “lying sack of s--t” who fabricates stories. Despite this, Wolff, who authored Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House and other titles about the former president, believes that the fallout between Musk and Trump has reached a critical point. He described their relationship as entering “blood score” territory, suggesting that the animosity between the two influential figures has deepened significantly.
Wolff also speculated on the potential consequences of their feud, noting that even if Trump's controversial spending bill fails to pass in the House, “Elon is pi--ed” and may consider establishing a new political party. Musk has hinted at the formation of an “America Party” if the spending bill is approved, stating he would support primary challengers against lawmakers who campaign on reducing government spending but then vote for what he deems the largest debt increase in history.
Trump is pushing for the passage of the spending bill by July 4 and has been urging Republican unity as House Republicans struggle to rally around the contentious legislation. The ongoing conflict between Trump and Musk continues to unfold, capturing the attention of political observers and the public alike as these two powerful figures clash in the political arena.
