President Donald Trump recently suggested the possibility of ending government subsidies for Elon Musk, following a public spat with the Tesla CEO.
The tension arose after Musk claimed credit for Trump's 2024 election victory and accused the President of ingratitude. "The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elons Governmental Subsidies and Contracts. I was always surprised that Biden didnt do it!" Trump stated on Truth Social.
According to Breitbart, the exchange between the two influential figures escalated when Musk criticized Trump's legislative efforts. Musk had previously taken to X, formerly known as Twitter, to assert, "Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House, and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate." He further expressed his dissatisfaction with Trump's "One Big, Beautiful Bill," labeling it "a disgusting abomination" and condemning those who supported it.
President Trump responded to Musk's criticisms by expressing his surprise and disappointment, especially given their past rapport. "Ive always liked Elon, and so I was very surprised," Trump remarked during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. He emphasized that Musk's grievances seemed to focus on the bill's removal of electric vehicle tax credits, a policy Musk was allegedly aware of from the outset.
"He knew every aspect of this bill. He knew it better than almost anybody. And he never had a problem until right after he left. Im very disappointed in Elon. Ive helped Elon a lot," Trump added.
The President also recounted how Musk reacted when he rescinded the electric vehicle mandate, which Musk had reportedly known about for months. "Elon was wearing thin, I asked him to leave, I took away his EV Mandate that forced everyone to buy Electric Cars that nobody else wanted (that he knew for months I was going to do!), and he just went CRAZY!" Trump explained.
Musk's recent comments have added fuel to the fire, with the SpaceX CEO lamenting the lack of appreciation from Trump. "Such ingratitude," Musk noted in a follow-up post on X. Despite the friction, Trump maintained that he would prefer Musk's criticism to be directed at him rather than the bill, which he described as "incredible."
The unfolding drama between these two high-profile figures highlights the complexities of their relationship, particularly in the context of government policies affecting the electric vehicle industry. While Musk's influence in the tech world is undeniable, Trump's stance on government spending and subsidies reflects a broader conservative perspective on fiscal responsibility and market-driven solutions.
As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how these dynamics will impact future interactions between the President and the tech mogul.
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