Trump says relationship with Musk is 'over,' warns against funding democrats

US President Donald Trump on Saturday warned of “serious consequences” if tech mogul Elon Musk provides financial support to Democratic candidates challenging Republicans who back the administration’s sweeping tax-cut and spending bill. In an interview with NBC News, Trump also admitted that his relationship with Musk, who was once a key ally and donor, is likely over. “I would assume so, yeah,” he said.

“If he does, he’ll have to pay the consequences,” Trump told NBC News in a telephonic interview, though he declined to specify what those consequences might be.

The rift between the two prominent figures erupted publicly earlier this week, with Musk criticizing the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" on X (formerly Twitter), calling it a “disgusting abomination” and warning that Trump’s tariff policies could trigger a recession.

Musk even posted, then deleted, a post on X supporting Trump’s impeachment, as well as a reference to Trump’s past ties to Jeffrey Epstein, an allegation Trump dismissed as “old news.”

Trump responded harshly, accusing Musk of being “disrespectful to the office of the President” and expressing disappointment in the billionaire, who has openly attacked the president’s signature tax and GOP-Led spending bill, labelling it bloated and unfair to clean energy industries

Musk, a major donor during Trump’s 2024 campaign, was appointed head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), where he led deep cuts to federal agencies.

Trump said he is confident the bill will pass before the July 4th deadline. “The Republican Party has never been more united,” he claimed, adding that Musk’s criticisms have only galvanized support for the legislation.

Trump also floated the idea of terminating Musk’s federal contracts, particularly those involving SpaceX, but said he hadn’t given it further thought. Allies like Steve Bannon have urged investigations into Musk’s business dealings, but Trump said it's not something he's considering now.

“I think it’s a shame he’s so depressed and heartbroken,” Trump said. “But in a way, Elon helped highlight how good this bill really is.”

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