Trump Threatens Musk Will Funding Dems Cost Elon Big?

Trump Threatens "Serious Consequences" After Public Feud with Elon Musk

The already strained relationship between former President Donald Trump and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has taken a dramatic turn for the worse. Following a week of escalating public exchanges, Trump has warned Musk of "serious consequences" should he choose to financially support Democratic candidates who oppose the GOP's budget bill.

"If he does, he’ll have to pay the consequences for that," Trump stated in a phone interview with NBC News, stopping short of specifying what those consequences might entail. "He’ll have to pay very serious consequences if he does that."

The conflict erupted after Musk voiced criticism of a GOP-backed spending bill that recently passed the House. Trump, seemingly stung by Musk's opposition, initially expressed disappointment, claiming he had "helped Elon a lot." This prompted a flurry of responses from Musk on X (formerly Twitter), including a now-deleted post referencing Trump's past associations with Jeffrey Epstein.

The tit-for-tat continued on Truth Social, where Trump suggested that federal contracts with SpaceX should be terminated, stating, "The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts! I was always surprised that Biden didn’t do it!"

Key Takeaways from the Feud:

• Trump Threatens Action: Trump vows "serious consequences" if Musk funds Democratic candidates opposing the GOP budget bill.
• No Reconciliation: Trump says he has "no desire" to repair his relationship with Musk. "I would assume so, yeah," he responded when asked if the relationship was over.
• Musk's Criticism: Musk publicly criticized the GOP-led spending bill.
• Trump's Retaliation: Trump suggested terminating federal contracts with SpaceX.
• Past Support: Musk significantly supported Trump's 2024 presidential bid.

Trump further accused Musk of being "disrespectful to the office of the President." He dismissed Musk's Epstein reference as "old news."

Despite the public falling out, Trump maintains confidence in the passage of the budget bill. "The Republican Party has never been united like this before. It’s never been. It’s actually more so than it was three days ago," he asserted.

Reactions and Potential Implications:

• Conservative voices, like Steve Bannon, have called for investigations into Musk's business dealings and immigration record. Trump stated these conversations are not currently a priority.
• The feud could potentially influence the political landscape, depending on Musk's future financial contributions.
• The conflict highlights the growing divide between some tech leaders and the Republican party.

It remains to be seen what form Trump's threatened "consequences" might take and how Musk will respond. This public spat underscores the complex and often unpredictable intersection of politics, technology, and personal relationships at the highest levels.

While the immediate fallout may seem turbulent, it’s crucial to remember that political landscapes are ever-shifting. Perhaps this very public disagreement will ultimately pave the way for unexpected collaborations or, at the very least, a clearer understanding of the boundaries between public figures and private influence.

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-elon-musk-consequences-funds-democratic-candidates-rcna211605