Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, has effectively been ousted from American politics. He was once regarded as a key technology leader who helped President Donald Trump secure re-election, but now he has reached a point of antagonism with the White House. Government contracts related to Musk are under review, and those he recommended, as well as his close associates, have been dismissed. Musk no longer holds any influence in American politics, and his exchanges with President Trump have escalated into an all-out confrontation.
The incident began when Musk criticized the $2.5 trillion tax and expenditure bill proposed by the Trump administration, labeling it a 'terrible bill.' Trump immediately responded, mentioning the cancellation of government contracts, and the conflict escalated from policy disputes to emotional clashes. Musk's political standing collapsed quickly.
On the 5th (local time), Musk mocked Trump by quoting past social media posts in which Trump criticized national liability and fiscal deficits, asking, 'Where has the person who said this in the past gone? Is the person in the White House now a stand-in actor?' On the same day, he also confirmed that he liked a post stating 'Trump should be impeached' and commented 'Yes.' Although the post was deleted, the aftermath continued.
On that day, Musk also claimed that he had donated $270 million for Trump's re-election, saying, 'He wouldn't have become president without me.' Trump retorted, saying, 'He has problems' and alluded to mental health and drug use allegations. Musk countered by posting on X (formerly Twitter) that 'Trump is on the Epstein list' but that post was soon deleted as well.
Foreign media interpret this conflict not as a personal outburst by Musk, but as a structural event representing the clash between technology power and political power.
① Clash of technology and politics
This conflict is significant not merely as a quarrel between two billionaires, but as an event where the heterogeneity between political and technological power exploded. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) analyzed this on the 6th in a column titled 'Musk is a genius, but not a political genius,' describing it as 'an example of an engineer's linear worldview colliding with the ambiguous game of politics.'
Musk provoked Trump's counterattack by acting solely on rationality and liberal principles without understanding the language of politics. In contrast, Trump clearly signaled his intent to sever ties with Musk by mentioning the cancellation of government contracts and reportedly purging Musk-affiliated individuals within the Republican Party.
② Trump's style of retaliation... Counterattack against challenges to authority
Trump interpreted Musk's challenge as a threat to his authority. In response, the Trump administration sent clear signals that it would sever ties with Musk. It cut the budget of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and the NASA Director General candidate recommended by Musk was dropped. Internally, individuals affiliated with Musk were reportedly targeted for replacement in key policy positions.
This approach is similar to how Trump dealt with journalists and aides he disliked in the past. Musk has openly expressed his displeasure, but the administration appears to have considered this not merely a difference in opinion but rather an act of 'rebellion.'
③ Crack in Republican alliance, Musk as a symbolic defector
The re-election coalition Trump built aimed for diversity and expansion, but actual policies have been exacerbating internal conflicts. Silicon Valley, which expected tax cuts and deregulation, and high-tech companies that sought skilled immigration have been accumulating dissatisfaction with the current administration's anti-immigrant and anti-safety net stance.
Musk is the first to vocalize such grievances. The Financial Times (FT) analyzed on the 7th that his actions could be viewed not simply as a personal deviation, but rather as a symbolic turning point, as the defection of entrepreneurs and tech-oriented supporters from the Republican Party becomes a reality.
④ Silicon Valley also shocked... Emergence of the 'post-Musk' landscape
Musk's political ousting has also shocked Silicon Valley. Many startups that expanded their businesses through close connections with the government began to feel anxious that they could be exposed to 'regime risk.' Corporations affiliated with Musk, including SpaceX and Tesla, are worried about the potential for increased regulation and reduced government contracts.
FT also reported that taking advantage of this situation, Sam Altman of OpenAI is emerging as the new representative figure of the tech industry. He is said to demonstrate a more flexible attitude toward political relations, with persistent rumors of interactions with the White House.