Washington: Elon Musk has shocked the political world by calling for President Donald Trump to become impeached.
The billionaire technical chief made the demand for a fierce public row with Trump over government spending and grants for electric vehicle.
The two who were once close allies have now become rivals, with Musk saying that Trump is no longer suitable for leading. The feud played in real time on social media, grabbing headlines and rattling markets.
The hostilities began when Trump criticized Tesla CEO Musk in the Oval Office. Within a few hours, it was once close relationship dissolved in full public view, as the world’s most powerful man and its richest acted personal bargain on Trump’s truth Social and Musk’s X.
“The easiest way to save money on our budget – billions and billions of dollars – is to terminate Elon’s state subsidies and contracts,” Trump released the social.
Wall Street Traders dumped shares in Musk’s electric vehicle manufacturer, and Tesla closed 14.3%and lost about $ 150 billion in the market value of market value ever.
Minutes after the final bell, Musk replied “Yes” to a post on X, suggesting that Trump should be impeached. Trump’s Republicans are currently checking both congregations, making impeachment unlikely.
The rift had brewed for several days, starting when Musk condemned Trump’s sweeping tax and expenditure bill. Originally, Trump kept quiet while musk struggled to kill the bill and said it would aggravate the country’s $ 36.2 trillion debt.
Trump eventually broke his silence on Thursday and told journalists in the oval office that he was “very disappointed” in Musk.
“Look, Elon and I had a good relationship. I don’t know if we want to,” Trump said.
When Trump spoke, Musk fired of ever -sharper positions on X.
“Without me, Trump would have lost the election,” wrote Musk, who spent nearly $ 300 million to support Trump and other Republicans in last year’s election. “Such ungratefulness.”
In another post, Musk warned that Trump’s signature stariffer could push the United States into a recession later this year.
Alongside Tesla, Musk’s companies include rocket company and government contractor SpaceX and its satellite unit Starlink.
Musk, whose space company is playing a critical role in the US government’s space program, said he would begin to shut down Spacex’s Dragon Room vessel – the only US spacecraft currently capable of transporting astronauts to the International Space Station – in response to Trump’s threats.
Pugilistic couple
The feud was not entirely unexpected. Trump and Musk are both political pugilists with significant egos and a habit of using social media to beat back with critics, and many had predicted a falling.
Even before Musk left the administration last week, his influence had faded after repeated clashes with cabinet members over his aggressive cost -saving.
For Trump, this marks the first major break with a top adviser since the beginning of his second period, although his first period saw several dramatic exits.
Trump signed ways with several staff managers, national security advisers and political strategists between 2017 and 2021. A couple, like Steve Bannon, remained allies. Many others, such as Ambassador John Bolton, became vocal critics.
Musk became one of Trump’s most visible advisers after serving as the largest Republican donor in the 2024 campaign. As head of the Department of Government Efficiency, Musk led Musk a sweeping and controversial effort to shrink the federal workforce and cutting expenses.
He was regularly seen in the White House and at Capitol Hill, often with his young son in tow.
Just six days before Thursday’s Bust-Up, Trump and Musk appeared a joint performance in the oval office, praised each other’s work and promised to continue working together.
But the feud is now threatening Republican unity ahead of next year’s mid -terms. Musk’s massive subsequent and fundraising connections to Silicon Valley could spell problems.
Musk has already said he is planning to reduce his political spending in the future.
Shortly after Trump’s remarks, Musk published a vote to its 220 million followers on X:
“Is it time to create a new political party in America that actually represents the 80% in the middle?”
‘Kill the bill’
Musk threw Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” this week and called it a “disgusting abomination” that would balloon the federal deficit. His criticism expanded existing cracks in the Republican Party that could sink the bill’s passage in the Senate.
Non -Partisan analysts say the bill could add $ 2.4 trillion to $ 5 trillion to $ 36.2 trillion national debt.
Trump accused Musk of opposing the bill because it reduces tax credits for electric vehicle. He also claimed that Musk was missing out on working in the White House.
“He’s not the first,” Trump said. “People leave my administration … So at one point they miss it so badly. Some embrace it. Some become hostile.”
Musk wrote on X: “Kill the bill,” and added that he could accept losing EV credits if Republicans removed the “mountain of disgusting pork” in the bill.
He also reappeared Trump’s earlier comments that condemned the government overuse: “Where is this guy today?”
Musk entered the government that promised to cut $ 2 trillion from the budget. He left having cut only half a percent – while leaving chaos in the wake.
His political shifts have given rise to protests at the Tesla facilities in the US and Europe and drawn sales and spooking investors that concern musk are too distracted.
