President Donald Trump delivered a strong warning to Elon Musk, threatening “serious consequences” if the billionaire tech executive supports Democratic candidates in future elections. This statement represents a major escalation in the worsening relationship between the two men, who were once close allies. Trump made it clear he had no plans to fix their broken relationship, saying it was probably over for good.
Trump said, “If he does, he’ll have to pay the consequences for that,” to NBC. As reported by AP News, the president’s threat focuses on Musk’s many profitable federal contracts, which could be at risk if the government takes action against him. Trump has already floated the idea of canceling these contracts as a way to save taxpayer money.
The public dispute started earlier in the week when Musk criticized the Republican Party’s proposed “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a pending spending package. Musk called the bill a “disgusting abomination” and warned it would drive up the national deficit. Trump responded to these remarks while speaking in the Oval Office, and the disagreement quickly turned into a heated back-and-forth of personal insults on social media.
Trump escalating situation with Musk
Musk’s posts included accusations tying Trump to Jeffrey Epstein, though these were later deleted. He also demanded Trump’s impeachment. Trump fired back on Truth Social, accusing Musk of being disrespectful and threatening to cut off his government contracts. Trump claimed that ending Musk’s federal subsidies and deals would be the simplest way to reduce government spending. He also hinted that Musk only criticized the bill after it passed, implying Musk knew about its contents beforehand.
Vice President JD Vance tried to ease tensions by calling Musk’s actions a “huge mistake” and suggesting Musk might have been upset with Washington D.C.’s slow bureaucracy. Vance said he hoped for a resolution but admitted the damage might be too severe for Musk to rejoin Trump’s circle. He also defended the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” saying its main goal was not to reduce spending but to extend tax cuts from 2017.
Money is tearing apart Washington’s billionaire bromance.
Elon #Musk accused Trump of ingratitude, saying he helped win the election.
Trump fired back, called Musk crazy and threatened to revoke his federal contracts.
FRANCE 24’s @frazj reports pic.twitter.com/lZi60h7WR2
— FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) June 6, 2025
He acknowledged the bill had flaws, even though the Congressional Budget Office predicted it would add $2.4 trillion to the deficit and strip health insurance from millions. Vance shared these thoughts during an interview with comedian Theo Von at a Nashville restaurant owned by Kid Rock.
The fallout between Trump and Musk is especially notable because Musk donated over USD 250 million to Trump’s 2024 campaign. Additionally, Trump appointed Musk to lead the Department of Government Efficiency earlier in his presidency, where he carried out major layoffs and shut down several agencies.
Despite the conflict, Trump remained confident the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” would pass the Senate before July 4. He claimed the Republican Party was more united than ever and that Musk’s outburst might have actually helped the bill by drawing attention to its benefits.
