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President Donald Trump on Saturday issued a pointed warning to tech billionaire Elon Musk, saying there would be “serious consequences” if Musk financially supports Democratic challengers to Republican lawmakers who back the administration’s sweeping new budget plan.
“If he does, he’ll have to pay the consequences for that,” Trump told NBC News in a phone interview. “Very serious consequences.”
The president declined to detail what those consequences might be, but his threat underscores an extraordinary and rapid deterioration in what was once a highly public and mutually beneficial relationship between the two men.
Trump made clear he has no intention of mending ties with Musk after a public breakdown in their alliance earlier this week.
“No,” Trump said flatly when asked if he wished to repair the relationship. “I would assume so, yeah,” he added when asked if the relationship was over.
From Allies to Adversaries
The feud exploded after Musk criticized the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, a GOP-led budget proposal, and launched a string of attacks on X, including a now-deleted post suggesting Trump should be impeached and another claiming the president’s tariff policies would spark a recession.
Trump responded Thursday from the Oval Office, expressing disappointment in Musk and saying he was surprised by the attacks given the support he had offered Musk in the past.
“I’m very disappointed in Elon. I’ve helped Elon a lot,” Trump said.
Later that day, Trump took to Truth Social, writing, “The easiest way to save money in our Budget… is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts,” referring to SpaceX’s federal contracts. He added, “I was always surprised that Biden didn’t do it!”
When asked Saturday if he was seriously considering canceling those contracts, Trump replied, “I’d be allowed to do that… but I haven’t given it any thought.”
Musk Under Fire from Trump Allies
The rift has not gone unnoticed among Trump’s allies. Vice President JD Vance, appearing on the podcast This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von, called Musk’s attacks “nuclear” and said the fallout may be permanent.
“Maybe that’s not possible now because he’s gone so nuclear,” Vance said. “I think it’s a huge mistake for him to go after the president like that.”
Vance also acknowledged Musk’s frustrations with Washington, describing the legislative process as “bureaucratic” and “slow moving,” but urged business leaders like Musk not to lash out at political allies.
Accusations and Old Scandals
Musk’s attacks included a resurfaced post referencing Trump’s past associations with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Trump dismissed the post as “old news” and noted, “Even Epstein’s lawyer said I had nothing to do with it.”
Trump also accused Musk of being “disrespectful to the office of the President,” a claim that added a personal dimension to their increasingly bitter feud.
“I think it’s a very bad thing… You could not disrespect the office of the President,” Trump said.
Political and Financial Fallout
Despite Musk’s opposition, Trump insisted the budget bill is on track.
“I’m very confident it’ll pass the Senate before July 4,” Trump said, calling the GOP more unified than ever. “Actually more so than it was three days ago.”
He argued that the feud has helped sharpen focus on the bill’s benefits. “I think Elon… brought out the strengths of the bill,” he said.
Musk had previously contributed over $250 million to support Trump’s reelection campaign and was appointed to head the Department of Government Efficiency, where he oversaw mass federal layoffs and agency restructuring in the early months of Trump’s second term.
Trump said that he hasn’t considered calls from allies like Steve Bannon to investigate Musk’s immigration status or business dealings, saying, “It’s not something that’s on top of my mind right now.”
What Comes Next
The Trump-Musk clash highlights the risks of internal party disputes at a pivotal moment for Republican unity. Once aligned on deregulation, government restructuring, and tech innovation, the two now appear headed for an all-out political war—with federal contracts, campaign financing, and legislative outcomes in the balance.
This feud, once thought unlikely, could reshape both the tech-political landscape and the final stages of Trump’s second term in office.
