America Loses With Trump and Musk Feud
It’s one thing to take a principled stand against your political opponents. It’s another to take a wrecking ball to your own allies—and Donald Trump, unfortunately, has made a habit of doing exactly that. His latest target? Elon Musk, a man who’s arguably done more than most to push back on leftist orthodoxy and revive American innovation. On Thursday, Trump publicly broke with Musk, accusing him of opposing the “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” because the electric vehicle (EV) subsidy was cut from the final version of the bill.
“Elon’s upset because we took the EV mandate,” Trump said, clearly annoyed that Musk dared to criticize the legislation. “They want us to pay billions of dollars in subsidy… and, you know, they’re having a hard time, the electric vehicles.” He claimed Musk knew all along what was in the bill and only soured after the money dried up. “That hasn’t changed,” Trump said. “But I know that disturbed him.”
On Thursday afternoon, Trump claimed on Truth Social that Elon Musk “was ‘wearing thin,’ I asked him to leave.” That version of events, however, doesn’t square with the facts. Musk wasn’t fired—he completed his term. He had been formally designated a “special government employee,” a unique status established by Congress in 1962 to allow experts from outside the government to serve in temporary, high-level roles. These appointments are limited to 130 working days per calendar year. Musk’s tenure began on January 20 and timed out exactly on May 30—the same day Trump publicly praised him and bid him a fond farewell.
What’s actually disturbing is how this appears to be yet another example of how Trump turns allies into enemies. Musk isn’t the first—far from it. During the 2024 Republican primaries, he spent more time going after Ron DeSantis—one of the most successful and conservative governors in the country—than he did attacking Joe Biden and the Democrats. Trump even praised Newsom around this time.
Trump is a bold, visionary leader—but let’s be honest, he has a troubling tendency to turn on his own allies. Just look at the list: Mike Pence, Bill Barr, Jeff Sessions, James Mattis, John Kelly—virtually every major figure from his first administration eventually ended up in his crosshairs. Even Kayleigh McEnany, who was one of his most loyal defenders, caught heat for simply reporting poll numbers that didn’t fit the preferred narrative. It’s a pattern: show a shred of independence, and you’re out. That revolving door in his first term wasn’t a coincidence—it was the consequence of leadership that rewarded blind loyalty over constructive disagreement.
And now he’s taking aim at Elon Musk? Why?
Musk didn’t have to serve. He didn’t need the headache. But he stepped up anyway, taking the reins at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and throwing himself into the fire. In return, he got vandalized dealerships, firebombed offices, and relentless attacks from the left-wing media for daring to serve under Trump. He took real hits—reputational and financial—because he believed in the mission. And now, because of a disagreement, Trump is threatening to strip away Musk’s contracts and subsidies, writing, “The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts.”
Come on. That’s not how you treat one of the few visionaries willing to work with you in the belly of the swamp. Trump remains the indispensable leader of the America First movement. But this instinct to burn bridges over small disagreements is self-defeating. Especially when it comes to someone like Musk—an ally who brings cultural influence, financial power, and a bold vision for American innovation. Musk didn’t come to Washington to be coddled. But he didn’t come to be knifed in the back either.
Musk isn’t blameless here either. He contributed to the escalation, making some absurd comments about Trump and the Epstein files, and even claiming that Trump would have lost without him. It’s childish on both sides, and it needs to stop.
This feud will not end well if it keeps up Trump and Musk need to work it out privately, not escalate it publicly. Trump needs to stop alienating the very people who could help him deliver on his promises. We can’t afford a second term that repeats the mistakes of the first.
If this feud continues, there will be only one winner—and it won’t be Donald Trump or Elon Musk. It’ll be the Democratic Party, gleefully watching two of the most powerful figures in the conservative movement tear each other apart. We’re at a turning point, and the last thing the America First agenda needs is an unnecessary civil war between its top allies. Trump and Musk don’t have to agree on everything, but they do have to remember who the real enemy is. For the sake of the movement—and the country—they need to reconcile; otherwise, America will lose.
I couldn't agree with you more, Matt. This is the ugly side of Trump. I thought with all he's been put through and pretty much held his tongue, he'd learned his lesson to keep a lot of his thoughts to himself. Especially when it comes to his own people disagreeing with him. Or at least talk it out in private. UGH!