Fact Check: Trump and Elon are not friends anymore

Fact Check: "Trump and Elon are not friends anymore"

What We Know

1. Initial Relationship: The relationship between Elon Musk and Donald Trump began with skepticism. Before the 2016 presidential election, Musk publicly criticized Trump, stating that he was "not the right guy" to lead the country 12.

2. Fluctuating Dynamics: Over the years, their relationship experienced several shifts. Musk initially supported Hillary Clinton in 2016, but after Trump's victory, Musk briefly served on two White House advisory boards before resigning in 2017 due to policy disagreements 23.

3. Public Endorsement: In 2024, Musk endorsed Trump following an assassination attempt on the president. Musk became a significant campaign supporter, donating over $270 million to Trump-aligned super PACs 123.

4. Government Role: After Trump's re-election, Musk was appointed to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a controversial role that he held for 130 days, claiming to have saved $175 billion 23.

5. Public Feud: In June 2025, Musk publicly criticized Trump's key legislative proposal, the 'One Big Beautiful Bill', calling it a "disgusting abomination" 24. This criticism led to a public feud, with both Musk and Trump exchanging insults over social media platforms 35.

6. Breakup: The relationship, once characterized by mutual support, devolved into a hostile feud, marking a very public breakup 456.

Analysis

The sources consistently describe a relationship that evolved from initial skepticism to a temporary alliance, followed by a significant fallout. The timeline of events is corroborated across multiple reputable sources, including The New York Times, WION, and The Hill 123.

The credibility of these sources is generally high, as they are established media outlets with a history of political reporting. However, it is essential to consider potential biases, especially in politically charged narratives. Despite this, the consistency of the narrative across diverse sources strengthens the validity of the claim.

The public nature of the feud, with both parties using social media to express their disagreements, provides direct evidence of the breakdown in their relationship. The critical turning point appears to be Musk's denouncement of Trump's legislative proposal, which catalyzed the public fallout 24.

Conclusion

The claim that "Trump and Elon are not friends anymore" is True. The evidence from multiple sources indicates a clear and public deterioration of their relationship, transitioning from a temporary alliance to a hostile feud. This conclusion is supported by consistent reporting across various reputable media outlets and the direct public exchanges between Musk and Trump.

Sources

1. A History of Trump and Elon Musk's Relationship in their Own Words ... - The New York Times
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2. Elon Musk and Donald Trump's feud of the century: A timeline ... - WION
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3. Musk-Trump, from fast friends to breaking up: A timeline - The Hill
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4. Trump, Elon Musk and when a friendship breakup spirals into a feud - USA Today
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5. Trump-Musk political relationship: A summary and timeline - NBC News
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6. A Timeline of Elon Musk's and Donald Trump's Bromance - Newsweek
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