Key Points
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Elon Musk’s alliance with Trump ended after major disagreements.
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He criticized Trump’s new tax and spending bill.
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Musk now plans to step back from politics entirely.
Elon Musk’s political alliance with Donald Trump began in a surprising twist. Initially, Musk criticized Trump’s leadership qualities during the 2016 campaign.
However, in 2017, he briefly joined Trump’s advisory councils. He soon resigned in protest over Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement.
Despite this early rift, things changed dramatically in 2024 after an assassination attempt on Trump. Musk publicly backed Trump’s re-election campaign and donated over $260 million.
His support earned him a major appointment as co-chair of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump initiative to slash federal spending.
Trump, known for praising allies, commended Musk: “He’s a smart guy… he’s very much into cutting the budget.” Musk returned the favor, stating, “The more I’ve gotten to know President Trump, the more I like him. I love the guy; he’s great.”
Elon Musk political alliance with Trump begins to sour
Although Musk initially embraced his role at DOGE, tensions surfaced quickly. He grew frustrated with internal disagreements and policy setbacks.
Most notably, he opposed a Trump-backed tax and spending bill, calling it a betrayal of DOGE’s mission.
As disagreements mounted, Musk announced his exit after just 130 days. He told reporters he wanted to “reduce political involvement” and return focus to his businesses, including SpaceX and Tesla.
Musk critiques South Africa and clashes with Malema
Even outside U.S. politics, Musk remained outspoken. He criticized South Africa’s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) laws, claiming they blocked Starlink’s local operations.
“Starlink is not allowed to operate in South Africa, because I’m not black,” Musk posted on X.
He also targeted Julius Malema, urging the U.S. to impose sanctions. Musk called him an “international criminal” and accused him of inciting violence.
In response, Malema called Musk a “spoiled brat” and “beneficiary of Apartheid whiteness.”
This international spat further cemented Musk’s departure from the political mainstream and deepened the rift between his personal views and public reception.
