US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Elon Musk, threatening the tech mogul with “very serious consequences” if he follows through on suggestions he may politically target Republican lawmakers who back a contentious federal spending bill.
The extraordinary remarks, delivered to NBC News on Saturday, come amid a spectacular public falling out between Trump — the world’s most powerful political figure — and Musk, the world’s wealthiest man. The collapse of their once-close alliance has played out in full view of the public, largely via social media.
Tensions erupted on Thursday after Musk launched a scathing attack on Trump’s flagship “big, beautiful” spending bill, which is currently making its way through Congress. The measure has sharply divided Republicans, with several party members urging Musk to finance primary challenges against those who support it.
“He’ll have to pay very serious consequences if he does that,” Trump told NBC, referring to the Tesla and SpaceX boss. He accused Musk of being “disrespectful” and refused to clarify what repercussions he might face.
Asked whether he intended to reconcile with Musk, the President responded with a flat “no,” adding that he has “no intention of speaking to him”.
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The rift is particularly striking given the cordial tone of their relationship just one week ago. At the time, Trump had praised Musk’s departure from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a role the billionaire had taken up in a bid to streamline public spending.
But relations quickly soured when Musk described the proposed spending bill as an “abomination” — a comment that appeared to provoke a furious response from Trump. The President delivered a tirade from the Oval Office, escalating tensions even further and leaving political circles in Washington reeling.
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The feud reached a new height when Musk posted on his social media platform X: “Time to drop the really big bomb: (Trump) is in the Epstein files.” The implication, though unverified, sent shockwaves across the political and media landscape. As the row intensifies, questions remain over whether Musk will indeed back primary opponents to pro-bill Republicans — and how far Trump is prepared to go in retaliation.
Both men continue to wield enormous influence within the Republican Party, and their public clash underscores the deep fractures emerging ahead of the next election cycle.
