In the wake of Elon Musk’s sharp criticism of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act—a spending package championed by Donald Trump—their once amicable relationship has deteriorated into a public showdown. Musk denounced the bill as a “pork‑filled…abomination,” prompting Trump to retaliate sharply, calling Musk mentally unstable and warning of “Trump Derangement Syndrome”. The escalating conflict escalated rapidly, with both men trading pointed barbs online and via interviews .
Tech entrepreneur and AI expert Devan Leos predicts that should the feud intensify further, Trump could invoke national‑security tools—such as the International Emergency Economic Powers Act or an executive order—to outright ban X, citing Musk’s alleged references to classified information or ties to the Epstein case as justification . Leos argues that Trump has the legal framework and executive authority to pursue such a ban and may act if Musk continues to provoke him .
Meanwhile, Trump has made it clear he is no longer interested in reconciliation. In a June 7 interview with NBC, he emphasized that he has “zero interest” in repairing relations with Musk and bluntly warned of “serious consequences” should Musk support Democratic candidates in upcoming elections. He also threatened to cancel or cut federal contracts held by Musk’s companies—Tesla, SpaceX, Starlink, and xAI—pointing to the significant risk their continued federal involvement now faces.
Financial markets have already responded to this feud: Tesla stock dropped by around 14%, erasing an estimated $150 billion in market value. This slump reflects investor concerns about potential regulatory retaliation or disruption to Musk’s government‑dependent ventures . Additionally, Musk’s deletion of posts alleging Trump ties to Jeffrey Epstein hasn’t eased tensions, with each side holding firm in their threats.
In summary, while the likelihood of an X platform ban remains low, the feud has intensified significantly. Trump possesses the tools and legal authority to act if provoked further, and Musk’s businesses face mounting political risks—making this a high-stakes confrontation with wide-reaching implications.
