Photo: Evan Vucci/AP
A war between two titans: Donald Trump and Elon Musk have entered into a public clash that could change the face of American politics and the market. The world’s richest man accused the US president of involvement in the Epstein case and called for him to be indicted. In response, Donald Trump threatened to deprive Musk’s company of billions of dollars in government contracts.
According to Reuters, the confrontation erupted after Musk criticised Trump’s tax bill, calling it devastating to the US budget. The president kept silent for a long time, but on Thursday he publicly stated:
“The easiest way to save billions is to end Musk’s subsidies and contracts.”
Musk vs Trump: what we know
- Musk explicitly stated that Donald Trump’s name appears in the DOJ’s files on the scandalous Jeffrey Epstein.
- In response, Trump hit back at Musk’s business, threatening to suspend SpaceX’s contracts, including those for servicing astronauts on the ISS.
- Tesla shares plummeted by 14%, losing $150 billion in market capitalisation – a record decline in the company’s history.
- Musk replied on X (formerly Twitter):
“Without me, Trump would have lost the election.”
Musk is ready to stop the Dragon ship – but changed his mind
In the midst of the conflict, Elon Musk announced his intention to decommission the only American spacecraft, the Dragon, which delivers astronauts to the ISS. But in the evening, he rolled back the threat, hinting at the possibility of reconciliation after the intervention of investor Bill Ackman.
Is a truce possible?
Social media is already discussing whether the two billionaires can get along. Musk wrote:
“You’re not wrong,” in response to a post calling for peace with Trump.
