Musk vs. Trump: Ceasefire in the War of Words – But for How Long?

A phone call between representatives of Donald Trump and Elon Musk has temporarily put a lid on the public feud between the two giants. However, even though the tone on the surface has become more subdued, dissatisfaction still simmers behind the scenes.

A Fragile Alliance on Pause

According to two White House officials who wish to remain anonymous, neither the president nor the Tesla billionaire wants to extend the conflict – but neither wishes to forget it. “He’s stopped posting, but that doesn’t mean he’s content,” one source said about Trump’s pause on Truth Social.

Two specific issues have especially aggravated the president: Musk’s insinuation that Trump was connected to Jeffrey Epstein – a sensitive topic even without concrete allegations – and Musk’s public statement that Trump wouldn’t have won the election without him. “So ungrateful,” Musk wrote wryly on X, referring to his own massive donations of over a quarter billion dollars.

Mega Bill and Reluctance

Alongside this war of words, the Trump administration is trying to push through a landmark legislative package – the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” – which Musk has criticized for being filled with “a MOUNTAIN of DISGUSTING PORK.” This did not sit well with the White House, which is struggling to rally support for the package.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt maintains that “President Trump is focused on getting the big, beautiful legislative package passed” – but it does not change the fact that Musk, once regarded as an ally, now seems to be drifting further away.

From Cooperation to Sabotage

The conflict has been brewing for some time. Trump’s frustration began even before the latest tweets, when Musk, in Trump’s view, exaggerated DOGE’s capacity to trim the federal administration.

When the nomination of Jared Isaacman – Musk’s favorite to lead NASA – was withdrawn, it was the last straw cut.

Behind the decision stood Sergio Gor, the White House Chief of Staff, who according to sources has had a strained relationship with Musk since a cabinet meeting in March.

Here, Trump underscored that it is the ministry’s own leaders that have decision-making authority – not Musk, who also attended the meeting.

Simmering Showdown

Musk has since found it difficult to collaborate with Gor, and his relationship with the president is marked by distrust and disappointment.

Neither Musk nor Trump has a history of backing down, and while the internal power balance in the party suggests that Trump has the upper hand, Musk remains an unpredictable factor with enormous resources and a voice that reaches millions.

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