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Washington, D.C., USA – The dramatic fallout between U.S. President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk has taken a new turn, with the White House confirming Trump plans to sell or give away his red Tesla Model S, a car he bought in March 2025 to show support for Musk. The decision, announced on Friday, June 6, 2025, comes as their public feud escalates, threatening political and financial consequences for both men.
The rift, which erupted on Thursday, stems from Musk’s fierce criticism of Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a sweeping tax and spending package. Musk called it a “disgusting abomination” on X, claiming it would balloon the U.S. debt.
Trump hit back, accusing Musk of being upset over the removal of electric vehicle tax credits and threatening to cut billions in government contracts for Musk’s companies, including Tesla and SpaceX. “The easiest way to save money in our Budget is to terminate Elon’s subsidies and contracts,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
The White House says Trump has no plans to speak with Musk today, despite earlier reports of a possible call to broker peace.
“The president is focused on passing this historic legislation,” said press secretary Karoline Leavitt, dismissing Musk’s attacks as “an unfortunate episode.” Meanwhile, Trump told CNN, “I’m not even thinking about Elon. He’s got a problem,” and described Musk as “the man who has lost his mind” to ABC News.
The feud has already hit Tesla hard, with shares dropping 14.3% on Thursday, wiping out $150 billion in market value—the company’s largest single-day loss ever.
Shares rebounded slightly by 4-5% in early trading Friday, but the damage underscores the stakes for Musk, whose companies rely on federal contracts worth billions. Trump’s threat to cancel these, including SpaceX’s deals to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station, could hurt Musk’s empire.
On the flip side, Musk’s influence poses risks for Trump. With 220 million followers on X and over $250 million spent to support Trump’s 2024 campaign, Musk could fund challengers to Republicans in the 2026 midterms or amplify criticism on his platform.
His Thursday posts, including a claim that Trump’s name is in Jeffrey Epstein’s files (without evidence) and a poll asking if a new political party is needed, show his willingness to escalate. Musk later softened his tone, agreeing with a post urging him to “cool off” and retracting a threat to decommission SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft.
Republicans are worried. House Speaker Mike Johnson called the feud “surprising and disappointing” but expressed hope for reconciliation, saying, “I believe in redemption.” Vice President JD Vance backed Trump, praising his leadership without naming Musk. Analysts warn the spat could fracture GOP unity, with Musk’s attacks potentially weakening Trump’s agenda.
The Tesla, still parked outside the White House on Friday, has become a symbol of their shattered alliance. Once celebrated with photo-ops alongside Musk, the car’s sale marks a bitter end to their “bromance.” As one X user put it, “The dream team has divorced!” Nigerians following the saga on X are buzzing, with some calling it a clash of “two egos going at it.”
For now, both men are digging in, with Trump focused on his bill and Musk rallying against it. The world watches as this high-stakes showdown unfolds, with billions in contracts, political capital, and a red Tesla on the line.
