WASHINGTON, USA — Tech billionaire Elon Musk has reignited tensions with President Donald Trump, claiming in a pointed social media post that Trump would have lost the 2024 presidential election without his support.
The comments were made on Thursday, June 5, 2025, in response to criticism levelled by Trump following Musk’s growing opposition to a controversial spending bill championed by the White House.
The legislation, a cornerstone of Trump’s second-term domestic policy, narrowly passed Congress by a 215–214 vote, sparking public and political backlash for its combination of steep tax cuts and record-high border enforcement spending.
“Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House, and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate,” Musk wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“Such ingratitude.”
Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025
Such ingratitude
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025
The sharply worded statement came after Trump criticised Musk for quitting his post as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a role Musk had assumed with the goal of saving $2 trillion in federal spending.
Only $160 billion has reportedly been saved under the initiative.
Musk’s departure followed his denunciation of the spending bill, which he described as “a disgusting abomination.”
His criticism focused on what he sees as fiscal recklessness — combining sweeping tax reductions, a $4 trillion increase to the national debt ceiling, and major expansions in border security funding.
The bill earmarks $46.5 billion to resume construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall, $350 billion for immigration enforcement, and introduces a $1,000 asylum application fee — a first in U.S. immigration policy.
It also authorises the hiring of 18,000 new enforcement personnel and raises the estate tax exemption to $15 million, a change benefiting high-net-worth individuals.
Speaking to reporters earlier this week, Trump said he was “very disappointed” in Musk’s reaction, suggesting the Tesla CEO only turned against the bill upon learning that it would cut federal support for electric vehicles.
“Elon knew the inner workings of this bill better than almost anybody,” the president said.
“And he only developed a problem when he found out I was going to cut the EV mandate… I’ve helped Elon a lot.”
Trump praised Musk’s work at DOGE but attributed his criticism to personal frustration.
“He worked hard at DOGE, and I think he misses the place… Some of them embrace it, and some become hostile. I don’t know what it is — some sort of Trump derangement syndrome,” he said.
While Trump claimed he would have carried Pennsylvania without Musk’s involvement, the tech mogul dismissed that assertion, implying that his support was instrumental not only to Trump’s re-election, but also to Republican gains in Congress.
But Musk wasn’t done, further revealing that President Trump was on the infamous Jefferey Epstein list, which is the reason why it has not been released.
Time to drop the really big bomb:@realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public.
Have a nice day, DJT!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025
The exchange marks a sharp deterioration in what had been a publicly cordial relationship between the two high-profile figures.
