The tension between President Donald Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk has taken a sharp turn today, escalating from policy disagreements into overt personal conflict with Donald Trump suggesting Elon Musk has Trump Derangement Syndrome.
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It started when Musk, currently CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, took to Twitter and quote-tweeted one of Trump’s posts from 2013 — a clear dig aimed at the President. While the original tweet dates back over a decade, Musk’s decision to amplify it today was interpreted widely as trolling — and a not-so-subtle jab at Trump’s past public support for him.
Shortly after, reporters asked President Trump about Musk during an appearance in the Oval Office. First, Trump said that he was very surprised about Elon Musk’s attacks on the bill.
He went on to suggest that Musk’s discontent stemmed from recent legislation — particularly a bill backed by the White House that includes significant cuts to the electric vehicle tax credit. That policy change directly affects Musk’s business interests.
Trump went further, stating that he had pulled Musk’s recommendation for NASA director — a pointed move considering Musk’s long-standing involvement in space policy through SpaceX.
Perhaps most striking was the personal turn the President’s comments took. He mocked Musk’s black eye, referencing a recent Oval Office visit during which Musk appeared with visible facial bruising. He ended off by saying that he was no longer sure whether the two would maintain a good relationship going forward.
He finished off by saying: “People leave my administration, and they love us, and then at some point, they miss it so badly, and some of them embrace it and some of them actually become hostile. I don’t know what it is. It’s sort of Trump derangement syndrome, I guess they call it.”
The remark marked a shift from political rivalry to something far more personal.
The deterioration of the relationship between two of the most high-profile figures in American public life comes amid larger debates about energy policy, federal subsidies, and the role of billionaires in government. Whether this feud continues to escalate — or finds some unexpected resolution — remains to be seen.
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