Trump and Musk’s Social Media Truce: A Fragile Pause in a Wild Feud
The uneasy truce between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk on social media is still holding—for now. After a Friday call between reps from both camps, things have quieted down, at least publicly. But insiders say this calm is far from permanent.
“He’s stopped posting for the moment, but don’t mistake that for peace of mind,” a White House official told me. Referring to Trump’s break from Truth Social, the official added, “He’s definitely not happy about it.”
The Social Media Fireworks: What Set It Off?
This latest pause follows a fierce online war that saw Musk call for Trump’s impeachment while Trump threatened to yank federal contracts from Musk’s sprawling business empire. Both sides have stepped back, but sources close to the situation say neither man is thrilled with the détente.
A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, summed it up well: “The future of their relationship is totally uncertain.”
It’s hard to forget how explosive this fight got, especially when Musk tossed in a bombshell insinuation linking Trump to the late Jeffrey Epstein. Musk claimed Trump was “in the Epstein files.” While it’s publicly known that Trump and other big names appear in court documents related to Epstein, Trump has never been accused of wrongdoing. Still, the suggestion stung.
Money, Credit, and Resentment: The Real Fuel
What really sent Trump over the edge was Musk bragging that Trump wouldn’t have won the 2024 election without his help—and that Musk’s contributions topped a quarter of a billion dollars. The president wasn’t shy about calling that “such ingratitude.”
Musk made his point loud and clear on X (formerly Twitter), taking credit for Trump’s victory and rubbing salt in the wound.
A Bigger Picture: The Political Landscape
This feud bubbled up just as Trump and GOP leaders were pushing through a major domestic policy package—what could be the centerpiece achievement of Trump’s second term. Musk wasn’t shy about criticizing the bill, calling it a “MOUNTAIN of DISGUSTING PORK.” Not exactly subtle.
When asked about this tension, Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, stayed on message: “As President Trump has said himself, he is moving forward focused on passing the One Big Beautiful Bill.”
The Cracks Showed Earlier
The relationship between these two power players was shaky well before the Twitter war broke out. Trump was irritated by Musk’s public skepticism of Dogecoin’s potential to help drastically cut federal bureaucracy—something Musk hyped heavily.
Adding to the strain, the White House pulled the nomination of Jared Isaacman, Musk’s pick to head NASA. That move signaled a clear chill in relations. According to sources, White House personnel director Sergio Gor was behind Isaacman’s nomination withdrawal—and Gor and Musk have had simmering tensions for months.
Musk reportedly refused to engage with Gor after a March Cabinet meeting where Trump made it clear who’s boss. The president told his agency heads they were in charge of their departments—not Musk, who had been sitting in on the meeting.
Musk’s Government Shakeup
Musk’s recent government interventions haven’t gone unnoticed—or uncriticized. Following his entry into the political scene, Musk triggered waves of mass firings and issued warnings to government employees. These moves sparked lawsuits and drew heat from Democrats and Republicans alike.
It’s clear Musk’s style doesn’t fit smoothly within the traditional political machine, and that has made his working relationship with the White House rocky at best.
Trump’s Upper Hand?
Most Republican lawmakers and political operatives agree that if this feud heats up again, Trump holds the cards. Despite Musk’s billions and massive online influence, Trump’s political base and control of key federal levers make him a formidable opponent.
Still, Musk is no ordinary adversary. The world’s richest man, with an online megaphone rivaling even the presidential bully pulpit, has unique power to shift the narrative—and Trump knows it.
What’s Next?
Right now, both men seem to be holding their fire. But with so much history and such high stakes, a permanent ceasefire seems unlikely. The political drama continues, with many watching closely to see who blinks first.
Quick Takeaways:
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Trump has paused posting on Truth Social but remains frustrated.
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Elon Musk and Trump had a heated social media feud involving impeachment calls and threats over federal contracts.
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Musk’s Epstein insinuation and claims about his role in Trump’s election victory sparked major backlash.
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The feud unfolded amid major domestic policy legislation efforts by Trump and GOP leaders.
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The White House withdrew Musk’s NASA pick, signaling strained ties.
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Trump made clear Musk isn’t running government departments.
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Musk’s firing spree in government drew lawsuits and bipartisan criticism.
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Despite Musk’s power and money, Trump still holds political leverage.
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The fragile truce could break anytime.
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