The predictable rift between powerful narcissists Elon Musk and Donald Trump is happening for these 5 reasons:
Tariff Policy and Economic Protectionism
Musk publicly criticized the Trump administration’s tariffs on Chinese imports, especially electric vehicle components, claiming that these tariffs would increase Tesla’s production costs, hurting its competitiveness. This clash reflects the contradiction between Musk’s globalist capitalism, which relies on transnational supply chains, and Trump’s nationalist protectionism, which seeks to consolidate political power by appealing to the American working class.
Both approaches reinforce the accumulation of capital in the hands of elites, whether through offshoring (Musk) or economic populism (Trump), while workers face precarious conditions with no real benefits from either approach.
Elimination of Electric Vehicle Subsidies
The Trump administration, in its recently passed Big Beautiful Bill, eliminated the $7,500 tax credit for electric vehicles, a key pillar of Tesla’s sales. Musk expressed his frustration on X, noting that this measure “betrayed” his initial support for Trump, who had promised to back technological innovation. Trump, at a rally covered by Fox News, justified the decision by arguing that the subsidies primarily benefited wealthy consumers and companies like Tesla.
This conflict highlights how alliances between political and business elites are transactional and break down when economic interests diverge. Musk, representing tech capital, seeks to maintain state incentives that maximize his profits, while Trump uses the subsidy cuts to project a populist image, even though they actually benefit allied fossil fuel industries. This perpetuates a system where the state prioritizes corporate interests over social needs, such as an affordable energy transition for the majority.
Conflict of Interest and Control of Federal Agencies
Since May 2025, tensions arose over Musk’s role at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), where he sought to influence FAA regulations to expedite SpaceX launches and expand the use of Starlink in federal contracts. Trump, according to posts on Truth Social, objected to what he called “Musk’s interference” in key agencies, accusing him of wanting to “control the government from the shadows.” Posts on X also mentioned friction over Trump’s refusal to budge on regulations that affected SpaceX’s interests.
Disagreements over Key Appointments (NASA)
Trump withdrew his support for Jared Isaacman, Musk’s nominee to lead NASA, after pressure from other political allies. Musk, in an X thread, expressed his disappointment, emphasizing that Isaacman was key to aligning NASA with SpaceX’s goals, such as contracts for lunar missions. Trump, on Truth Social, defended his decision, stating that he needed “total loyalty” at NASA.
Musk seeks to establish allies at NASA to ensure SpaceX’s hegemony in space exploration, while Trump prioritizes appointments that strengthen his political base. This turns NASA into a battleground for private interests, marginalizing its potential as a tool for scientific advancement for the collective benefit.
Personal Attacks and Disinformation Narratives
Musk claimed on X that Trump appears in the “Epstein Files,” unleashing a media storm. Trump responded on Truth Social, threatening to cancel SpaceX’s federal contracts and accusing Musk of spreading lies to destabilize him. The two traded attacks online, with Musk calling Trump a “dictator” and Trump calling Musk a “traitor.”
By employing sensationalist narratives, both Elon Musk and Trump reinforce a media system that prioritizes personal conflict over critical analysis of policies that affect the majority.
The rift between Musk and Trump is not just a clash of egos, but a manifestation of the tensions between different factions of a ruling class vying for control of political, economic, and media power, using the state and digital platforms as tools for their agendas. This conflict distracts from the true consequences of their policies—inequality, deregulation, and the erosion of the common good—keeping the public trapped in a cycle of polarization and spectacle.