In a recent interview with NBC News, President Donald Trump reportedly issued a pointed warning to Elon Musk, cautioning that there would be “very serious consequences” if the tech billionaire chose to financially support Democratic candidates opposing Republican lawmakers who back Trump’s proposed budget.
The tensions between Trump and Musk escalated this week after Musk criticized Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” claiming it could exacerbate the federal deficit.
Trump, expressing disappointment in Musk’s remarks, has now threatened to cancel Musk’s government contracts as their verbal sparring intensified.
Musk had previously suggested that lawmakers supporting the bill should be “fired” from office.
“If he does, he’ll have to pay the consequences for that,” Trump stated, referring to the possibility of Musk using his wealth to back Democratic candidates.
The president has made it clear that he sees Musk’s criticisms as disrespectful, stating, “You could not disrespect the office of the President.”
Musk’s comments regarding Trump had included an accusation linking the president to the so-called “Epstein files.”
However, as of Saturday, Musk had removed that accusation from his social media platform, X.
Trump dismissed Musk’s claims about the files as “old news,” acknowledging that his past association with Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier and convicted sex offender, is well-documented.
Trump claimed that Musk’s recent remarks had inadvertently united Republicans behind his budget proposal.
“I think Elon brought out the strengths of the bill because people that weren’t as focused started focusing on it,” he said, suggesting that the controversy surrounding Musk had galvanized support for his agenda.
In his comments, Trump also expressed concern for Musk’s well-being, describing him as “depressed” and “heartbroken.”
“It’s a shame that he’s so depressed,” Trump remarked, indicating a mix of frustration and pity for the tech entrepreneur.
Despite the ongoing tensions, Trump emphasized that he has no plans to engage with Musk in the future.
“I’m too busy doing other things,” he stated, making it clear that he sees their relationship as effectively over.
As the confrontation continues to unfold in the media, it raises questions about the dynamics between influential figures in the tech industry and the political landscape.
Trump’s warning to Musk serves as a reminder of the significant interplay between wealth, influence, and political allegiance in contemporary American politics.
The ongoing saga between these two high-profile figures is being closely watched, as both their actions and rhetoric could have broader implications for the Republican Party and its relationship with influential donors in the tech sector.
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