“He Went Crazy”: Trump Turns on Elon Musk, Threatens to Cut Off Government Funds

President Donald Trump publicly escalated his feud with tech mogul Elon Musk on Thursday, threatening to revoke billions of dollars in federal contracts awarded to Musk’s companies. The dramatic fallout comes after months of simmering tension between the two once-close allies, sparked by Musk's scathing criticisms of Trump’s recently passed economic legislation. The feud has now boiled over into a full-scale public clash, with Trump blasting Musk in a social media tirade and suggesting that the billionaire entrepreneur has “gone crazy.”

“Elon was ‘wearing thin,’ I asked him to leave,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I took away his EV Mandate that forced everyone to buy Electric Cars that nobody else wanted (that he knew for months I was going to do!), and he just went CRAZY!”

Trump went on to claim that Musk’s extensive government contracts and subsidies are a prime target for budget cuts, stating, “The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts. I was always surprised that Biden didn’t do it!”

Speaking from the Oval Office during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump addressed questions about the fallout with Musk. “Look, Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore,” he said. When asked specifically about Musk’s outspoken criticism of his signature “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” Trump replied, “I’m very disappointed in Elon. I’ve helped Elon a lot. He knew the inner workings of this bill better than almost anybody sitting here.”

Trump further speculated that Musk may be acting out of a desire to return to his inner political circle. “People leave my administration, and they love us. Then at some point they miss it so badly, and some of them embrace it, and some of them actually become hostile,” he said, hinting at personal motivations behind Musk’s public criticism.

The legislation in question, which narrowly passed the House and is now under Senate review, extends Trump’s 2017 tax cuts while increasing defense and border security funding. It also includes significant cuts to Medicaid and food assistance programs, sparking criticism from fiscal conservatives and public advocates alike. Musk has been one of the most vocal critics, warning that the bill's $3 trillion projected deficit impact contradicts broader goals of government efficiency and debt reduction.

According to sources within the administration, there has been no direct communication between Trump and Musk in recent days. Attempts by officials to reach out to Musk or his team have reportedly gone unanswered.

The increasingly personal nature of the dispute marks a sharp turn in their relationship, once characterized by mutual admiration and policy alignment. With Trump now openly targeting Musk’s financial ties to the federal government, the clash signals a deep fracture in a former power alliance and one that could have significant implications for both politics and business.