On Saturday, President Trump warned that tech mogul Elon Musk could face “severe consequences” if he chooses to support Democratic candidates in upcoming elections. This statement follows a recent fallout between the two.
In a phone interview with NBC News, Trump stated that Musk would “have to pay for the outcome” if he backed GOP lawmakers advocating for the so-called “big beautiful bill.”
“If he does, he’ll have to pay very serious consequences,” Trump said.
The comments indicate a noticeable shift in their previously amicable relationship, which soured amid a social media conflict involving Musk. Musk alleged that Trump was mentioned in Jeffrey Epstein’s records and implied that he lost the presidential election largely due to Musk’s influence.
Trump threatened to terminate federal contracts for Musk’s companies, labeling the CEOs of Tesla and SpaceX as “crazy.”
Before this rift, Musk had indicated he would reduce his political spending in the future. “From a political spending perspective, I’m going to do much less in the future,” Musk stated last month, adding, “If I see the reasons for political spending in the future, I will do that. I’m not looking at the reason right now.”
Musk has emerged as a significant player in American politics, having invested over $250 million and backing Trump’s re-election campaign last summer. His influence allowed him to provide input on government efficiency and federal spending during Trump’s administration. Recently, Musk voiced his disapproval of a GOP spending bill and distanced himself from the administration over concerns about national debt.
When asked during the NBC interview if reconciliation with Musk was possible, Trump dismissed the idea but reaffirmed his confidence in his budget proposal despite criticisms from Republican senators.
“The Republicans have never been this united before, and they never did. In fact, it’s more than three days ago,” Trump remarked.
“I think Elon brought out the strengths of the bill because people who weren’t that focused on it started to pay attention. In that sense, there was a huge favor. But it’s a shame that he seems so down and heartbroken,” he added.
Some of Musk’s recent social media posts that escalated the feud were later deleted.
