On Thursday, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, delivered a series of sharp criticisms directed at former US President Donald Trump concerning his 'Big Beautiful Bill.' This was notable as it marked Musk's most direct public rebuke of the Republican leader since he stepped away from his role in the Trump administration.

In a provocative statement, Musk asserted, “Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate.” This claim sparked a flurry of reactions online, as Musk expressed his feelings of betrayal by Trump, stating, “Such ingratitude.” This public tussle illustrates not only the shift in their relationship but also the underlying tensions within the Republican Party.

To further underscore his point, Musk reshared an old post from Trump dated back to 2013. In this post, Trump expressed his embarrassment over the Republican Party's decision to extend the debt ceiling, saying, “I cannot believe the Republicans are extending the debt ceiling—I am a Republican & I am embarrassed.” Musk, in a move many interpreted as mocking Trump's current stance, commented, “Wise words.”

In a recent announcement, Trump proposed that the national debt ceiling be eliminated as part of his “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which aims to raise the debt ceiling before its expiration in August. Musk took the opportunity to further critique Trump’s proposal, retorting with, “Slim Beautiful Bill for the win. Keep the good, remove the bad.” This comment not only slightly altered the original name of Trump’s bill but also suggested that while there might be merit in the proposal, it needed substantial revisions.

The tension escalated as Musk continued to share a 2012 post from Trump, in which the former president declared, “No member of Congress should be eligible for re-election if our country's budget is not balanced---deficits not allowed.” Musk responded with agreement, stating, “I couldn’t agree more!” This highlighted a significant divergence between Musk’s business-centric viewpoint and Trump's approach to governance.

In response to Musk's criticisms, Trump expressed disappointment during a media interaction in the Oval Office. He implied that Musk might be struggling with “Trump derangement syndrome” and suggested that Musk misses his previous position within the White House. “Look, Elon and I had a great relationship. I don't know if we will anymore. I was surprised,” Trump remarked, reflecting on their past camaraderie.

Trump noted that while Musk had previously spoken highly of him, he was astonished by the sudden shift in Musk’s tone. He added, “He said the most beautiful things about me, and he hasn’t said bad about me personally, but I’m sure that’ll be next.” This statement hinted at a growing rift between the two influential figures.

Responding to Trump's claims, Musk took to social media to clarify his stance. He expressed his willingness to see reductions in electric vehicle credits but insisted that lawmakers should eliminate what he referred to as the “MOUNTAIN of DISGUSTING PORK in the bill.” In another dismissal of Trump's claims, Musk stated, “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.” This response points to Musk’s desire for transparency and accountability in government dealings, aligning with his critical view of the bill's passage.

The 'Big Beautiful Bill,' which is central to Trump’s domestic agenda involving tax reforms and spending, has been labeled an 'abomination' by Musk, further complicating the relationship between the two men. The unexpected discord arises just days after Trump hosted Musk for a ceremonial farewell in the Oval Office, marking the end of Musk’s tenure leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), where he was involved in cost-cutting measures.