Trump Warns Elon Musk of ‘Very Serious Consequences’ Over Funding Democratic Candidates

Bedminster, New Jersey: In a dramatic escalation of their highly publicized feud, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk, stating there would be “very serious consequences” if Musk were to fund Democratic candidates running against Republicans who support Trump’s sweeping tax-cut and spending bill. The remarks, made during a phone interview with NBC News on Saturday, underscore a deepening rift between the two former allies, whose once-close relationship has deteriorated into a public war of words.

A Falling Out Between Titans

The feud between Trump and Musk, two of the most influential figures in American politics and business, erupted earlier this week over disagreements regarding the GOP-led “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a massive tax and spending package that has become a cornerstone of Trump’s second-term agenda. Musk, who served briefly as an advisor to the Trump administration and led the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), publicly criticized the bill, calling it a “disgusting abomination” that would balloon the national debt.

Musk’s criticisms, aired primarily on his social media platform X, included a now-deleted post linking Trump to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as well as another suggesting that Trump’s tariff policies could trigger a recession later this year. In response, Trump took to Truth Social, accusing Musk of disloyalty and suggesting that the federal government could save “billions and billions of dollars” by terminating SpaceX’s government contracts and subsidies. Trump also remarked that he was “always surprised” the Biden administration hadn’t taken similar action.

Trump’s Warning: ‘Serious Consequences’

In his Saturday interview with NBC News, Trump doubled down on his rhetoric, emphasizing that Musk would face significant repercussions if he used his vast wealth to support Democratic candidates opposing Republicans who back the tax-and-spending bill. “If he does, he’ll have to pay the consequences for that,” Trump said, repeating for emphasis, “He’ll have to pay very serious consequences if he does that.” However, Trump declined to specify what those consequences might entail, leaving room for speculation about potential actions, ranging from investigations to the cancellation of federal contracts with Musk’s companies, including SpaceX and Starlink.

Trump also dismissed any possibility of reconciling with Musk, stating, “I have no intention of speaking to him. I’m too busy doing other things.” When asked if their relationship was over, Trump responded, “I would assume so, yeah.” He further accused Musk of being “disrespectful to the office of the President,” citing Musk’s social media attacks as a personal affront. “You could not disrespect the office of the President,” Trump added, framing Musk’s actions as a betrayal not just of their personal alliance but of the institution itself.

The Roots of the Rift

The public falling out marks a stark contrast to the once-cordial relationship between Trump and Musk. During the 2024 presidential campaign, Musk emerged as a major financial backer, contributing over $277 million to Trump’s campaign and other Republican candidates through his America PAC and other political action committees. Musk’s support included a $40.5 million payment to a mysterious entity called United States of America, Inc., as well as funding for a controversial sweepstakes in Pennsylvania that offered $1 million daily to registered voters who signed his petition. The latter initiative, which faced legal challenges, was defended by Musk’s lawyers as a contractual arrangement rather than a lottery.

After Trump’s election victory, Musk was appointed to lead DOGE alongside entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. The duo oversaw significant layoffs of federal workers and the partial or complete closure of several government agencies, aligning with Trump’s goal of streamlining the federal government. However, tensions arose when Musk began publicly criticizing the GOP’s spending bill, which he argued contradicted the administration’s cost-cutting rhetoric. Musk’s departure from his advisory role on May 28, 2025, marked the beginning of the unraveling of their alliance.

Musk’s Response and Potential Next Steps

Musk’s criticisms of the spending bill culminated in a series of provocative posts on X, including one that appeared to endorse calls for Trump’s impeachment and another floating the idea of launching a new political party to represent “the 80% in the middle.” A poll Musk conducted on X showed over 80% of respondents supporting the creation of a third party, prompting speculation that he might fund Democratic or independent candidates to challenge Republicans who support Trump’s agenda.

In response to Trump’s threat to cancel SpaceX’s contracts, Musk announced that his company would begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft “immediately,” a move that could disrupt NASA’s operations and national security missions reliant on SpaceX’s technology. However, by Saturday, Musk had deleted several of his more inflammatory posts, including the Epstein-related accusation, suggesting a possible attempt to de-escalate the feud. Sources close to Musk told Reuters that his anger had begun to recede and that he might seek to repair his relationship with Trump.

Political Ramifications

The public spat has sent shockwaves through the Republican Party, which Trump claims is “more united than ever” behind his agenda. In his NBC interview, Trump argued that Musk’s opposition had inadvertently highlighted the strengths of the spending bill, as it prompted lawmakers to focus on its benefits. “People that weren’t as focused started focusing on it, and they see how good it is,” Trump said, expressing confidence that the bill would pass the Senate before July 4.

However, Musk’s influence, both as a financial powerhouse and a cultural figure with a massive following on X, poses a potential challenge to Republican unity. GOP strategists have noted that Musk could use his America PAC to pressure Republicans or target moderate Democrats in swing states, potentially reshaping the political landscape ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Conservative activist Charlie Kirk has already signaled plans to fund primary challenges against Republican senators who do not fully align with Trump’s agenda, naming figures like Joni Ernst and Thom Tillis as potential targets.

Broader Implications

The Trump-Musk feud highlights the growing intersection of wealth, technology, and political power in American governance. Musk’s role as a major donor and advisor gave him unprecedented influence in Trump’s administration, but his willingness to publicly challenge the president underscores the limits of that alliance. The threat of “serious consequences” raises questions about the extent to which Trump might leverage executive power to target Musk’s business interests, particularly SpaceX, which relies heavily on government contracts for its space exploration and satellite operations.

For now, the feud appears to have cooled slightly, with Musk deleting his most provocative posts and Trump indicating he has not given further thought to canceling SpaceX’s contracts. Yet, the underlying tensions—over policy, loyalty, and the role of billionaires in politics—suggest that this conflict could resurface, with significant consequences for both men and the political landscape they inhabit.

As one X user pleaded, “I PRAY THESE 2 men Can settle their differences in a civil manner WE THE PEOPLE HAVE ENOUGH ON OUR PLATES NOW!!!” The sentiment reflects a broader hope that two of America’s most prominent figures can find common ground—or at least avoid further escalation that could destabilize the political and economic spheres.