Former President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to tech billionaire Elon Musk, stating there would be “serious consequences” if Musk funds Democratic candidates running against Republicans who support the GOP’s landmark budget bill, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Speaking to NBC News in a phone interview on Saturday, Trump was blunt:
“If he does, he’ll have to pay the consequences for that,” he said, declining to clarify what those consequences might be. “He’ll have to pay very serious consequences if he does that.”
The former president’s comments come amid a dramatic escalation in tensions between two of the most influential figures in American politics and business. The week-long feud has played out across social media platforms—X (formerly Twitter) and Trump’s Truth Social—with mutual accusations, deleted posts, and policy threats dominating the narrative.
Relationship Beyond Repair
When asked whether he hoped to mend ties with Musk, Trump flatly said “No,” signaling a final break between the two.
“I would assume so, yeah,” Trump added when asked if the relationship was over.
The souring of their alliance, once forged on mutual interests and power dynamics, has become a headline-grabbing political spat. Musk had been a major financial supporter of Trump’s 2024 campaign, reportedly spending over $250 million in support, particularly in swing states. Trump, in turn, appointed Musk to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, during which Musk oversaw drastic cuts across federal agencies.
Feud Goes Public
The feud took a public turn earlier this week when Musk criticized the GOP-led budget bill, which passed the House last month. Musk claimed the bill lacked transparency and would harm innovation.
In response, Trump expressed disappointment, stating:
“I’m very disappointed because Elon knew the inner workings of this bill. I’ve helped Elon a lot.”
Shortly afterward, Musk fired back on X, posting a now-deleted message calling for Trump’s impeachment and accusing him of pushing a tariff-driven policy that could “cause a recession” later this year.
He also resurfaced old allegations by posting about Trump’s alleged ties with the late Jeffrey Epstein—an accusation Trump quickly dismissed as “old news.”
“Even Epstein’s lawyer said I had nothing to do with it,” Trump responded. “It’s old news.”
Calls to Cut Musk’s Federal Contracts
Trump suggested Musk’s companies—like SpaceX and Tesla—could lose billions in federal contracts if Musk continues opposing the GOP’s agenda.
“The easiest way to save money in our Budget—billions and billions of dollars—is to terminate Elon’s governmental subsidies and contracts,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I was always surprised that Biden didn’t do it!”
However, on Saturday, Trump downplayed those comments, saying he hadn’t given them much thought.
“I’d be allowed to do that,” he stated. “But I haven’t given it any thought.”
Republican Unity and Strategic Advantage
Despite the high-profile fallout, Trump believes the feud has actually helped solidify Republican support for the budget bill.
“The Republican Party has never been united like this before. It’s more united than it was three days ago,” he said.
Trump also said he’s confident the bill will pass in the Senate before July 4th, despite Musk’s vocal opposition.
“I think, actually, Elon brought out the strengths of the bill because people that weren’t as focused started focusing on it, and they see how good it is,” he remarked. “So in that sense, there was a big favor. But I think Elon, really, I think it’s a shame that he’s so depressed and so heartbroken.”
Accusations of Disrespect
Trump went on to criticize Musk’s recent behavior, calling it an attack on the presidency itself.
“He’s very disrespectful. You could not disrespect the office of the President,” Trump stated.
As tensions between the two escalate, allies of the former president, like Steve Bannon, have called for investigations into Musk’s immigration history and business dealings. However, Trump denied having such discussions.
“It’s not something that’s on top of my mind right now,” he said.
