‘I’ve helped Elon a lot’: President lashes out at former ‘first buddy’ who left White House just days ago – suggests billionaire is ‘upset’ over losing EV subsidies
Donald Trump has sensationally turned on his former right-hand man Elon Musk, declaring the world’s richest man has “Trump derangement syndrome” after the billionaire savaged the president’s signature tax bill as a “disgusting abomination.”
In an extraordinary Oval Office meltdown, Trump told reporters he was “very disappointed” with Musk – who just days ago was given an official send-off from the White House – suggesting the Tesla CEO misses the glamour of power and has become “hostile” like other ex-staffers.
The explosive public breakup between the two most powerful men in America comes after Musk unleashed a torrent of attacks on Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” warning it would burden Americans with “crushingly unsustainable debt” and urging lawmakers to “KILL the BILL.”
The dramatic fallout marks a stunning reversal for the bromance that saw Musk spend nearly $300 million to help elect Trump and become his “first buddy” – only to walk away in disgust after just 130 days.
TRUMP’S OVAL OFFICE BOMBSHELL
Speaking to reporters Thursday as Musk continued his social media barrage, a clearly irritated Trump didn’t hold back:
“I’m very disappointed in Elon. I’ve helped Elon a lot,” the president declared.
In a devastating psychological assessment, Trump suggested Musk was suffering from withdrawal after leaving the White House:
“I’m very disappointed because Elon knew the inner workings of this bill. He never had a problem until right after he left.”
Then came the killer blow: “Some of them actually become hostile. I don’t know what it is, it’s sort of ‘Trump derangement syndrome,’ I guess they call it. They wake up in the morning, the glamour is gone, the whole world is different, and they become hostile.”
MUSK’S ‘DISGUSTING ABOMINATION’ ATTACK
The Tesla CEO had pulled no punches in his assault on Trump’s legislative centerpiece:
I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore,” Musk posted on X. “This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.”
He warned the bill would “massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and burden American citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt.
By Wednesday, Musk was in full attack mode, urging followers: “Call your Senator, Call your Congressman. Bankrupting America is NOT ok!”
He even threatened revenge at the ballot box: “In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people.
THE $2.4 TRILLION ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
The Congressional Budget Office says Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” would:
- Add $2.4 trillion to the national debt over 10 years
- Extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts
- Eliminate taxes on tips and overtime
- Boost military and border security funding
- Cut Medicaid and food stamps
- Raise the debt ceiling by $4 trillion
Crucially for Musk, it would also eliminate electric vehicle tax credits that benefit his Tesla customers – a move Trump pointedly referenced.
‘ELON IS UPSET ABOUT THE EV MANDATE’
Trump twisted the knife by suggesting Musk’s opposition was driven by self-interest:
“Elon is upset because we took [away] the EV mandate, which was a lot of money for electric vehicles. They’re having a hard time, the electric vehicles, and they want us to pay billions of dollars in subsidy. Elon knew this from the beginning.”
Sources close to Musk told NBC News his fury was indeed partly driven by the EV credit cuts, but also by:
- The pulling of his ally Jared Isaacman’s NASA nomination
- Being denied an extension to stay in government beyond 130 days
- Frustration over the FAA not adopting his Starlink satellite system
WHITE HOUSE: ‘DOESN’T CHANGE ANYTHING’
The White House attempted damage control, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissing Musk’s attacks:
Look, the president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill. It doesn’t change the president’s opinion. This is one big, beautiful bill, and he’s sticking to it.”
A White House official told CNBC that Trump was “more disappointed than frustrated” but remained focused on passing the bill.
REPUBLICANS PILE ON MUSK
House Speaker Mike Johnson delivered his own rebuke: “With all due respect, my friend Elon is terribly wrong about the One, Big Beautiful Bill.”
Johnson even suggested Musk was motivated by the loss of EV subsidies: “I know that the EV mandate [is] very important to him; that is going away… I know that has an effect on his business, and I lament that.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune also dismissed Musk’s concerns, saying he hoped the billionaire would “come to a different conclusion” after further study.
FROM ‘FIRST BUDDY’ TO PUBLIC ENEMY
The spectacular falling out marks a dramatic reversal from just last Friday, when Trump gave Musk an official White House send-off after his stint running the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
During his 130 days in government, Musk had been:
- Trump’s most influential adviser
- A constant presence in the Oval Office
- The architect of sweeping government cuts
- Dubbed the president’s “first buddy”
Now, Trump lumps him in with other former staffers who “miss it so badly” and become “hostile” after leaving.
TESLA IN FREEFALL
The breakup couldn’t come at a worse time for Musk’s business empire:
- Tesla reported a 71% plunge in profits in Q1 2025
- The company faces losing crucial EV tax credits
- Solar and battery credits would also be eliminated
- Battery production credits would sunset by 2028
As one insider put it: “Elon and the Republicans were united in not liking the previous administration. As they get into governance, they are finding that is where the similarities end.”
MUSK FIRES BACK
In a cryptic response to Trump’s “derangement syndrome” comment, Musk posted on X simply: “🤔
He followed up with another post showing a graph of America’s soaring national debt, adding: “This is not sustainable.
THE DEBT BOMB
The fight has exposed deep Republican divisions over the bill:
- Deficit hawks like Senators Mike Lee and Ron Johnson demand deeper cuts
- Rural Republicans want to protect Medicaid
- The Senate can only afford to lose 3 votes
- July 4 deadline looking increasingly unlikely
DEMOCRATS GLEEFUL
Opposition leaders could barely contain their glee, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries mockingly agreeing with Musk that the bill was indeed a “disgusting abomination.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer piled on: “Even Elon Musk knows this bill is a disaster for America.
THE FUTURE OF TRUMPISM
The very public breakup raises profound questions about Trump’s second term:
- Can he pass his signature legislation without Musk’s support?
- Will other tech billionaires follow Musk’s lead?
- Has Trump lost his most powerful ally?
- Is this the beginning of a broader Republican civil war?
As Washington reels from the explosive fallout, one thing is clear: the bromance that helped define Trump’s return to power has turned into a bitter feud that threatens to derail his entire agenda.
And with Musk warning he’ll work to defeat any politician who supports the bill, the man who helped put Trump in the White House may now become his most dangerous enemy.
The only question remaining: Who will blink first in this titanic clash of egos?
Image credit: President Donald Trump with reporters, Elon Musk and X Æ A-Xii in the White House Oval Office on February 11, 2025 by The White House, Public Domain.
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[…] Donald Trump has sensationally branded Elon Musk “the man who has lost his mind” in an extraordinary phone interview with ABC News, declaring he’s “not particularly” interested in speaking to his former ally as their bitter feud explodes into public view. […]
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