'Disgusting abomination' to 'bombshell': Trump & Musk feud spirals; timeline of the public meltdown

NEW DELHI: In a stunning display of how quickly political alliances can crumble, the once-strong partnership between former President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk dissolved into a bitter public feud in the last one week.What began as a cordial farewell quickly escalated into a series of explosive accusations, threats, and revelations that have sent shockwaves through both political and business circles.

Here's how the drama unfolded:

‘Either it can be big or beautiful’: Musk criticises Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’

In an interview to CBS, Musk sharply criticised Trump’s legislative proposal. He described the bill as a “massive spending bill” that would escalate the federal deficit while undermining the efficiency of his DOGE team. “I think a bill can be big or it could be beautiful,” Musk stated.

“But I don't know if it could be both.” His comments reflect a deep-seated disappointment in the fiscal strategy laid out by Trump, which Musk argues is at odds with the spirit of reform he once championed.

A warm goodbye that masked growing tensions

Just days ago, Trump heaped praise on Musk during a formal Oval Office farewell, calling him “one of the greatest business leaders and innovators the world has ever produced.” Musk, in turn, pledged to remain an adviser and friend to the president while stepping back from his government role.

"The Oval Office finally has the majesty that it deserves thanks to the president,” Musk remarked, admiring Trump’s golden decor. It was a seemingly cordial departure — but one that concealed bubbling policy tensions.

The cracks widened when Musk launched a sharp critique of Trump’s prized Congressional budget bill. Taking to X, he called it “a disgusting abomination” and accused lawmakers of betrayal.“I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore… Shame on those who voted for it,” Musk posted, urging voters to oust them in 2025.

Notably, Musk avoided naming Trump directly, but his words struck a nerve.Trump did not immediately retaliate. His press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, tried to downplay the criticism, saying it “doesn’t change the president’s opinion.”

The rupture turns personal

By Thursday, the gloves were off. In a meeting with the German chancellor, Trump expressed his disappointment: “Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore.”The feud intensified across their respective platforms — Trump on Truth Social, Musk on X — with Musk dismissing Trump’s response: “Whatever.” He then credited himself with helping Trump win the 2024 election.“Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate," Musk claimed.

Trump hits back: 'I asked Elon to leave'

Responding on Truth Social, Trump claimed that Musk had worn out his welcome.

He alleged that Musk’s meltdown came after Trump revoked the EV mandate and began altering policies that would affect Tesla’s bottom line.“Elon was ‘wearing thin,’ I asked him to leave… and he just went CRAZY!” Trump wrote, adding that terminating Musk’s governmental subsidies would save “billions and billions of dollars.”He also expressed surprise that President Biden hadn’t already moved to cut Musk’s contracts.

Musk retaliates: Decommissioning Dragon spacecraft

Soon after Trump’s threat to cancel contracts, Musk escalated the confrontation by announcing the decommissioning of SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft — a move likely to have implications for NASA collaborations.“In light of the President's statement about cancellation of my government contracts, @SpaceX will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately,” Musk posted on X.The move was interpreted as a direct challenge to Trump's leverage over federal contracts and the space industry.

Musk drops Epstein bombshell

In a jaw-dropping claim, Musk accused Trump of being mentioned in the Jeffrey Epstein files — a controversial and politically toxic subject in US politics.“Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!” Musk wrote on X.He followed up with: “Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out.”No evidence was presented, and Trump’s FBI leadership had earlier dismissed speculation around Epstein’s death.

Trump responds: 'Should have turned on me earlier'

Trump, continuing his defense of the budget bill, brushed off Musk’s defection but questioned its timing.“I don’t mind Elon turning against me, but he should have done so months ago,” he posted, praising the bill as “one of the Greatest Bills ever presented to Congress.”“If this Bill doesn’t pass, there will be a 68% Tax Increase,” he warned, framing it as essential to “Make America Great Again.”

Musk: Trump tariffs will cause recession

Not stopping at budget policy, Musk took aim at Trump’s trade strategies.

He warned that the president’s tariff policies could plunge the US into recession by the second half of the year.“The Trump tariffs will cause a recession in the second half of this year,” he posted.This criticism aligned Musk with several fiscal conservatives and global economists concerned about Trump's economic nationalism.

Musk endorses impeachment, Vance as replacement

In a stunning political twist, Musk signalled support for Trump’s impeachment and floated Vice President JD Vance as a suitable replacement.When right-wing commentator Ian Miles Cheong wrote, “Trump should be impeached and JD Vance should replace him,” Musk responded with a simple but powerful: “Yes.”The endorsement signalled a clear break from Trump and stunned conservative commentators who had long seen Musk as a loyal Trump ally.

A historic fallout with broader implications

The rapid deterioration of the Trump-Musk alliance has shocked both political and tech circles. What began as a disagreement over economic policy spiralled into personal accusations, business threats, and one of the most public feuds in recent political history.With Trump heading into a re-election cycle and Musk’s influence over tech, media, and space policy still formidable, the implications of this breakup could ripple across Washington and Silicon Valley alike.