Elon Musk Predicts Recession, Spars with Trump in Escalating Political Feud
A once-promising alliance between Elon Musk and President Donald Trump has unraveled into a high-profile feud filled with economic warnings, political threats, and personal attacks.
It began when a user on X (formerly Twitter) suggested Trump should be impeached and replaced by Senator JD Vance.
Elon Musk replied simply: “Yes.” He then warned that Trump’s proposed tariffs could spark a recession in the second half of 2025, saying:
“The Trump tariffs will cause a recession in the second half of this year.”
SpaceX, EV Policies, and Government Contracts
Tensions escalated after Trump threatened to cancel Musk’s government contracts, including those supporting SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, which transports NASA astronauts. Musk fired back, threatening to begin decommissioning the spacecraft.
At the center of their disagreement is a Republican-backed spending bill, which Musk criticized for cutting clean energy incentives while preserving fossil fuel subsidies.
Trump accused Musk of being upset over the removal of EV mandates and the replacement of his preferred NASA nominee.
Bannon Calls Musk a Security Risk
Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon weighed in, suggesting Musk should be investigated and possibly deported, calling him a “national security risk.”
On his show, Bannon called Musk “unstable” and accused him of drug use, citing a recent news report.
Election Support and Epstein Allegation
Musk claimed that his support helped Trump win the 2024 election, contributing $290 million to the campaign. He added that without him, Republicans wouldn’t have taken control of the House.
The feud deepened when Musk alleged that Trump’s name appears in the Jeffrey Epstein files, a claim Trump did not directly address.
A Trump-aligned source pointed out that the former president had previously expelled Epstein from his Palm Beach club and that his name in court documents was already public knowledge.
What’s Next?
As the fallout continues, Musk maintains that he has decades left to influence politics, while Trump defends his spending bill and denies any wrongdoing.
The White House responded by saying Musk’s criticism stemmed from unmet policy demands, and Trump reiterated that the bill was among the “greatest ever presented to Congress.”
With billions in government contracts, national energy goals, and space exploration on the line, the rift between two of the most powerful men in America is more than personal — it’s political.
