In brief
- Trump accused Musk of relying on historic government subsidies and hinted at agency changes.
- The feud comes despite their former alliance on DOGE, a federal efficiency agency the pair helped create.
- It follows broader tensions over crypto, debt policy, and overlapping business interests.
More than just dogecoin
In a recent Truth Social post, President Donald Trump intensified his public rift with Elon Musk, suggesting that DOGE, the agency he once helped create, take a harder look at the billionaire’s companies.
“Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa,” President Trump stated.
DOGE was launched in early 2025 as a joint initiative between Trump and Musk to streamline federal systems, with its name nodding to the meme crypto Dogecoin.
A broken union
Musk has increasingly distanced himself from the administration recently. After a public breakup, he later issued an apology.
That didn’t last for long, with Musk launching tirades against Trump’s so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” – legislation seeking sweeping tax cuts, immigration reform, and crypto-friendly provisions.
“Hitting the debt ceiling is the only thing that will actually force the government to cut waste and fraud,” Musk posted on X, vaguely alluding to Trump’s Monday statement.
The dispute also draws attention to Trump’s ongoing financial exposure to the crypto sector, where Musk’s investments, including $1.2 billion in Bitcoin, significantly overlap.
