Donald Trump fires brutal ‘derangement’ shot at Elon Musk following social media feud
Donald Trump and Elon Musk, once close allies, are now in the middle of a very public and messy falling out. What used to be a strong friendship between the former president and the billionaire tech mogul has turned into a war of words played out across social media and press conferences.
It all started with growing tensions over a controversial government spending plan called the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Musk, who once held a temporary role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and was seen as a major Trump supporter, strongly disagreed with the bill. That disagreement seems to have lit the fuse.
Things took a sharp turn when Musk posted some bold claims on X (formerly Twitter). He said he was responsible for Trump’s 2024 election win and even claimed—without evidence—that Trump’s name appeared in the Jeffrey Epstein files, which are tied to the late financier’s criminal activities. That accusation raised plenty of eyebrows and sparked immediate reactions.
People watching all this drama unfold were naturally curious how Trump would respond, especially considering how tight the two used to be. Speaking during a meeting at the White House with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump addressed Musk’s sudden hostility. He said Musk was suffering from what he called “Trump derangement syndrome”—a phrase Trump has used before to describe people who he believes become irrationally obsessed with him after falling out.
Trump told reporters that while he and Musk once had a great relationship, he wasn’t sure where they stood anymore. He suggested Musk might just be struggling with no longer being involved in the Trump administration, something he said happens to others too. According to Trump, people often leave his circle and then eventually start to miss it, sometimes turning bitter or even aggressive.
Trump didn’t stop there. He also lashed out at Musk on his social platform, Truth Social. He said Musk had been becoming difficult and that he had asked him to step away. Trump claimed he removed an electric vehicle mandate—something that would have helped Musk’s businesses—and that this was what set him off. He described Musk’s reaction as going “crazy.”
Musk didn’t back down either. He doubled down on his claims about the Epstein files, accusing Trump of being the reason they haven’t been fully released. In a pointed message, Musk wrote, “Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public.” He followed that up with another post saying, “Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out.”
All signs point to a complete breakdown of what was once a powerful political and business partnership. These two men, who used to praise each other publicly, are now trading accusations and insults. And with claims like these flying around, it’s safe to say we won’t be seeing Elon Musk shaking hands with Donald Trump outside the White House again anytime soon.
