What consequences await Trump after his dramatic fallout with Elon Musk
A clash between US President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk seemed inevitable – nearly all commentators predicted it, citing the narcissistic tendencies of both figures.
During his first presidential term, Trump managed to fall out with many members of his team. However, this breakup stands out not only because of its scandalous nature, but also because of the influence of his opponent.
Read more to understand the consequences of this major scandal unfolding in the White House, in the article by Oleh Pavliuk, a European Pravda journalist: Musk attacks: will a clash with the world’s richest man cause real trouble for Trump?
For those familiar with the history of Musk's relations with Trump and the White House in general, their public spat was surprising only in its sudden and rapid escalation.
From the start, Musk never tried to play as part of the team or follow the rules.
The media repeatedly reported incidents showing Musk’s inability to fit into Trump’s administration.
The trigger for their public feud was the One Big Beautiful Bill – a budget proposal for the next fiscal year, named very much in Trump’s style, and intended to underpin his economic agenda.
This controversial bill, even among Trump’s fellow Republicans, includes cuts to subsidies for electric vehicle manufacturers, which would significantly impact Elon Musk’s Tesla.
On top of that came seemingly smaller slights – such as the White House refusing, citing security concerns, to install Musk’s Starlink satellite internet, or the withdrawal of Jared Isaacman’s nomination (a businessman and Musk’s friend) for future NASA leadership.
The current remote social media skirmish partly confirmed popular assumptions about both Trump and Musk, while also suggesting how far this rivalry could go if it continues.
Notably, in the early hours of the conflict with the US president, Elon Musk began hinting at his political ambitions. However, he cannot become president, having been born in South Africa, and the idea of founding a new political party remains vague at best.
What he can do, however, is influence the outcome of the 2026 midterm congressional elections, where Republicans risk losing their fragile majority in the House of Representatives.
Furthermore, for part of Trump’s voter base, particularly those with libertarian leanings, Musk’s departure might be a strong enough reason to withdraw their support for the former president. Especially as Trump’s economic direction increasingly diverges from libertarian expectations.
Even if this segment of the electorate isn’t large, it could still be decisive, potentially sinking Trump’s ambitions.
As for the US president himself, at least at this stage, he has emerged relatively unscathed from the feud with Elon Musk, if not outright victorious.
In fact, Trump may have reinforced his image among his core base – once again asserting that he alone calls the shots in the (White) House, downplaying Musk’s importance in his campaign. And the fact that Musk’s attacks have noticeably quieted after Trump threatened to slash federal funding for his businesses only strengthens this impression.