Trump-Musk Feud: Round 1

M.A. Dworkin

Washington, D.C, The World, All The Rockets in Space - Billed as one of the great brawls of the Century, call it: “Rumble in the Oval,” or Thrilla in D.C.” (either Ali title seems appropriate), it matches up two of the most powerful men on the planet, U.S. President Donald J. Trump and SpaceX/Tesla Boss, Elon Reeve Musk. It isn’t the first Oval Office love affair that has turned sour, but no doubt ‘The Honeymoon’ between the two former good buddies is over, and the iron-fisted, gold gloves, packed with million dollar bills to absorb the blows, are definitely on.

It was President Trump who threw the first punch. After the fallout between the two titans, the President ordered a review of all Government SpaceX contracts. Trump aides reportedly dug in deep to identify federal waste ala the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Oh, the irony. But it was only a light jab by the Prez, perhaps just to show who’s the real boss. 

The results of the investigation into Mr. Musk’s government dealings could have delivered a crushing blow to the hopes of his Space Exploration dreams, but it was only a glancing blow at best. Since most of the contracts were found to be critical components to the Defense Department and NASA, and officials doing the digging reported that canceling those deals were not feasible due to their importance to National Security. 

Then there was the insider talk about easing Mr. Musk out of the Golden Dome project, which the SpaceX CEO is reportedly eager to get a piece of the sky. Every Starlink satellite in orbit started shaking with rumors that Musk was off the gold-plated list of possible contractors. 

Yet despite the imploded relationship, the hushed innuendos, and bravado threats, Mr. Musk throws a lightning-fast heavy punch on the Washington scene. The SpaceX and Tesla Boss has enjoyed billions of dollars in subsidies and government contracts. So, it’s not such an easy task to just throw him out with the space trash. 

Round One is over. Now comes the statuesque beauty walking around the ring displaying the sign for Round Two. And as these two ‘Kings of the Ring’ return to their respective corners, the Prez is quietly telling his cutman he doesn’t really want to strip Elon of his subsidies. In fact, he is currently sending out smoke signals that it may be time to extend an olive branch to his old buddy, to make sure they both soften the blows in the next round, by denying reports that he ever had it out for Musk in the first place.

“Everyone is stating that I will destroy Elon’s companies by taking away some, if not all, of the large scale subsidies he receives from the U.S. Government. This is not so!” Trump recently wrote on Truth Social. “I want Elon, and all businesses within our Country, to THRIVE, in fact, THRIVE like never before!”

Yet, shortly after the post, Musk posted a pointed rebuttal on his X, writing: “The ‘subsidies’ he’s talking about simply do not exist.”

Mr. Musk added that “Trump has already removed or put an expiry date on all sustainable energy support while leaving massive oil & gas subsidies untouched…

“SpaceX won the NASA contracts by doing a better job for less money. Moving those contracts to other aerospace companies would leave astronauts stranded and taxpayers on the hook for twice as much!” Musk tweeted.

Yet the facts are the facts, Mr. Musk’s companies have secured over $38 billion in government funding since 2007, with nearly two-thirds of that amount awarded in the last five years. The government’s support spans federal, state, and local levels, and includes contracts, subsidies, tax incentives and regulatory advantages. SpaceX, Musk’s aerospace firm, is the largest recipient of those dollars.

Tesla, in the same vein, has received more than $11 billion in regulatory credits and government incentives. The $7,500 federal electric vehicle tax credit, which is set to expire at the end of 2025, is worth an estimated $1.2 billion annually to Tesla. 

Looking back on the battle, Mr. Musk and President Trump’s alliance unraveled almost immediately after the Tesla CEO criticized Trump’s sweeping tax and spending law, known as the “Big Beautiful Bill,” calling it a “disgusting abomination” and warning it would exacerbate the national debt. At the time of that Declaration of War, President Trump replied by calmly expressing disappointment over his old buddy’s stance and slyly suggested reconsidering government contracts for Mr. Musk’s companies. 

Mr. Musk, in what has to be described as a fit of enraged, near-insanity, fired back on social media, referencing allegations linked to Trump’s appearance in the infamous Jeffrey Epstein files. This was a big no-no on Mr. Musk’s part. It was a direct blow to the face followed by a crushing upper cut to the jaw, nearly a knock-out punch. It also opened up a whole new Pandora’s Box of forgotten misdeeds and horrors. 

The feud spiraled exponentially from there. With Trump publicly attacking Musk’s character and Musk floating the idea of forming a new political party. Such powerful blows would knock an amateur fighter clear out of the ring. But these are tough, well-trained veterans of the game. Nobody knocks either of them out with just one-punch. No matter how well-placed. And that is a proven fact. 

But never a dull moment in D.C. So stay tuned for Round Two, it could be a real toe-to-toe slugfest. 

“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past,” 

The Great Gatsby