The growing rift between Elon Musk and President Donald Trump escalated Thursday after the Tesla CEO claimed that Trump owes his 2024 re-election victory to Musk’s influence.
The latest salvo comes amid an ongoing dispute over what’s been dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill,” a sweeping legislative package that included, and later cut, major electric vehicle (EV) incentives.
Musk Fires Back: ‘Such Ingratitude’
Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) to defend himself after Trump publicly criticized the billionaire’s recent remarks about the legislation.
“Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate. Such ingratitude,” Musk wrote.
The post was a direct response to Trump’s Oval Office comments earlier that day, in which the president accused Musk of hypocrisy for criticizing a bill he allegedly supported behind closed doors.
Trump Accuses Musk of Political Backpedaling
Speaking to reporters, President Trump expressed “disappointment” in Musk’s shifting stance on the bill, particularly regarding provisions related to electric vehicle mandates and tax incentives.
Trump argued that Musk was well-informed on the legislation and only began criticizing it after it became clear the EV mandates would be scaled back.
“Elon knew the inner workings of this bill better than almost anybody sitting here, better than you people,” Trump said to reporters.
“He had no problem with it. All of a sudden, he had a problem. And he only developed the problem when he found out that we’re going to have to cut the EV mandate.”
Trump’s comments suggest rising frustration over what he sees as a public betrayal by one of the administration’s most visible tech-world allies.
Musk: Bill Passed in Secret, Without My Knowledge
Musk denied Trump’s claim in a follow-up post on X, stating that he had never seen the bill before it passed.
“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!” Musk wrote.
Musk’s criticism aligns with a broader backlash among conservatives who objected to the bill’s initial environmental provisions, which many viewed as burdensome and aligned with progressive climate goals.
The final version of the legislation saw several EV-related provisions watered down or removed entirely, which appears to be the root of the dispute.
Political Fallout from a Once-Strategic Alliance
The feud marks a notable fracture in what had once been a mutually beneficial relationship. Musk had been a high-profile voice advocating for deregulation, government efficiency, and fiscal reform—ideals closely aligned with Trump’s platform.
Some credit Musk’s outreach to libertarian-leaning independents and tech-savvy voters as a contributing factor to the GOP’s 2024 electoral victories.
Trump’s team has previously praised Musk for his contributions to domestic manufacturing and for standing up against what they describe as “woke” corporate culture.
However, the current dispute over the legislation’s content and process may signal a lasting division between two of the right’s most influential figures.
