In a surprising turn of political drama, a widening rift has emerged between former President Donald Trump and billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk — a relationship that once seemed politically aligned, especially on issues like deregulation and American manufacturing. The breaking point? Electric vehicles.
The conflict flared after Trump accused Musk of turning against an EV-related bill only after learning that a future Trump administration might roll back certain environmental mandates tied to the electric vehicle industry.
“I’m very disappointed with Elon,” Trump said at a recent political event. “I’ve helped him a lot. He knew the inner workings of the bill better than anybody sitting here. He had no problem with it. All of a sudden he had a problem — and he only developed the problem when he found out we were going to cut the EV mandate.”
🚨TRUMP: "I'm very disappointed with Elon. I've helped him a lot. He knew the inner workings of the bill better than anybody sitting here. He had no problem with it. All of a sudden he had a problem & he only developed the problem when he found out we're going to cut EV mandate" pic.twitter.com/aeCcmCAODQ
— DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) June 5, 2025
The legislation in question centers around federal incentives and mandates supporting the electric vehicle market — a sector where Musk’s Tesla has long been a dominant player. While Trump did not specify the exact nature of the “help” he provided, he implied Musk had insider knowledge of the bill and was comfortable with it — until its political implications shifted.
But Musk wasted no time firing back. In a sharp rebuke on X (formerly Twitter), he flatly denied any prior knowledge of the legislation and painted it as a rushed piece of lawmaking.
“This claim is false,” Musk posted. “This bill was never shown to me even once and was passed in the dead of night so fast that almost no one in Congress could even read it.”
False, this bill was never shown to me even once and was passed in the dead of night so fast that almost no one in Congress could even read it! https://t.co/V4ztekqd4g
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025
From Alignment to Fallout: Musk’s Quiet Role in Trump’s Comeback
The fallout is especially striking given how Musk and Trump’s relationship had evolved in recent years. Though never overtly political, Musk became an increasingly influential figure in right-leaning media and tech circles — especially after acquiring Twitter in 2022 and rebranding it as X. Under his leadership, the platform restored accounts of several controversial figures, including Trump, who had been banned following the January 6 Capitol riot.
While Trump opted to continue using Truth Social, many credited Musk’s move with easing the former president’s return to broader digital relevance — a crucial factor in his political resurgence.
Behind the scenes, Elon Musk also became a go-to voice among powerful conservative donors and political strategists. His criticism of the Biden administration’s EV policies and his warnings about government overreach earned him respect from GOP figures who saw him as both a capitalist icon and a cultural counterweight to liberal tech elites.
Some political observers even saw Musk as a bridge between Silicon Valley innovation and MAGA populism — someone who could lend a modern edge to Trump’s 2024 campaign, whether directly or indirectly.
That context makes the recent spat even more consequential. What was once a quietly strategic alignment between the world’s most high-profile entrepreneur and the Republican Party’s most dominant figure has now turned into a very public rupture.
A Collision of Power and Politics
This public clash highlights a deeper tension brewing within Republican politics: the future of electric vehicles. While Tesla has become a symbol of innovation and U.S. technological leadership, Trump and many of his allies have increasingly criticized EV mandates as overreach — a stance that now puts them at odds with one of the industry’s most prominent figures.
The rift could have ripple effects on the broader tech-policy landscape, especially if Trump regains political power and follows through on plans to undo EV-related environmental policies. Meanwhile, Musk’s distancing from Trump could reshape his perceived political affiliations, which have long been a mix of libertarian-leaning and anti-regulatory sentiment.
As both men dig in, what once was a mutual admiration appears to be shifting into a high-voltage feud — powered not by innovation, but by politics.
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