Elon Musk and President Trump's Alliance Shows Signs of Strain

Just six days ago, Elon Musk and President Trump were publicly exchanging commendations in the Oval Office.

However, their rapport has since deteriorated significantly.

The swift unraveling of their relationship became evident during a press conference and across social media last Thursday, following Musk’s exit as a special government employee the previous Friday. At that time, Musk expressed his desire to remain a friend and adviser to the president.

Their close association began publicly when Musk, the world’s wealthiest individual, endorsed Trump’s presidential bid in July and actively campaigned on his behalf.

Following the election, Musk appeared inseparable from the president, playing a role in influencing federal government actions, shaping policy decisions, and engaging with international leaders as a trusted confidant.

Signs of friction emerged earlier in the year when Musk harshly criticized Trump’s chief trade adviser, Peter Navarro, labeling him a “moron” and “dumber than a sack of bricks” in a series of posts on X, Musk’s social media platform.

More recently, Musk voiced disappointment with Trump’s domestic policy bill during an interview, criticizing the legislation’s scale and its effect on the national deficit.