In a jaw-dropping twist that feels more like a political drama than real life, Elon Musk has publicly come out in favor of impeaching President Donald Trump. The billionaire entrepreneur, who once stood firmly in Trump’s corner, is now calling him unfit to lead. And the clash between the world’s richest man and the most powerful politician in America is playing out in real time, right in front of millions online.
The blow-up started when Trump reportedly took a swipe at Musk during an Oval Office meeting. That same day, Trump went on his platform Truth Social and said, “The easiest way to save money in our Budget — billions and billions of dollars — is to terminate Elon’s governmental subsidies and contracts.”
The markets panicked. Wall Street dumped Tesla stock and by the time the dust settled, the company had lost a staggering 14.3 percent in value. That’s roughly $150 billion wiped off the books in one day — Tesla’s worst single-day drop ever.
Not long after, Musk responded with a simple but loaded “Yes” on X to a post suggesting Trump should be impeached. While the GOP controls Congress right now and impeachment seems unlikely, the move sent shockwaves through political and financial circles.
This all came after Musk publicly criticized Trump’s massive tax-cut and spending bill, warning it would make America’s $36.2 trillion national debt even worse. Trump stayed quiet for a bit, but finally told reporters, “Look, Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore.”
Musk didn’t hold back after that. “Without me, Trump would have lost the election,” he posted, reminding followers that he spent nearly $300 million backing Trump and other Republicans in the last cycle. “Such ingratitude,” he added.
He also took aim at Trump’s economic policies, especially tariffs, which he warned could tip the US into a recession. And when Trump threatened to pull SpaceX’s government contracts, Musk hit back hard, saying he’d start shutting down Dragon spacecraft missions — the only American vehicles capable of getting astronauts to the International Space Station.
For anyone who’s been watching, the fight was probably inevitable. Both Trump and Musk are known for being combative and unfiltered, especially on social media. Musk had already been clashing with Trump’s Cabinet over budget cuts before resigning from the administration last week, and this latest episode just made everything official.
This marks Trump’s first major split with a top adviser since his second term began, but it’s hardly his first political breakup. His first term was packed with high-profile exits, some of whom later turned into his fiercest critics.
Musk wasn’t just another donor or adviser. He was the biggest Republican donor in 2024 and even led a new Department of Government Efficiency. He was a constant presence at the White House, often bringing his young son along for meetings. Just days before things blew up, Musk and Trump were still smiling together in the Oval Office.
But now, with Musk pulling back on political donations and floating the idea of a brand-new political party that “actually represents the 80% in the middle,” the future of his influence in the GOP is murky.
Musk also took a hard swipe at Trump’s signature legislation, calling it a “disgusting abomination” and urging Congress to “KILL the BILL.” He admitted he could live without EV tax credits, but said Republicans needed to strip out the “mountain of disgusting pork.”
He didn’t stop there. Musk resurfaced one of Trump’s old anti-spending quotes, asking, “Where is this guy today?”
Musk joined the government promising to slash $2 trillion in spending. He managed only a half percent before resigning in frustration, leaving behind a trail of chaos. Now, protests are popping up at Tesla sites across the US and Europe, and investors are starting to wonder if Musk’s political crusade is becoming a liability.