By Gloria Nosa
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has responded sharply to recent critical remarks made by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, expressing his disappointment and reaffirming his stance on loyalty within political and business circles.
In a statement released Tuesday, Trump said he was “very disappointed” by Musk’s recent public comments, which questioned the former president’s leadership style and his potential re-election campaign. The tension follows a series of interviews and social media posts in which Musk has suggested that the Republican Party should “move on” from Trump and embrace a more forward-thinking candidate for 2028.
“I’m very disappointed in Elon. He’s someone I’ve always respected—not just for what he’s done in business, but for the way he embraced innovation,” Trump said. “But recently, his tone has changed, and I think he’s allowing the media and the political establishment to sway his opinions.”
The Source of the Dispute
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX and owner of X (formerly Twitter), has increasingly voiced skepticism about Trump’s role in the GOP’s future. In a recent interview, Musk criticized Trump’s behavior during and after the 2020 election, stating that “America needs less chaos and more competence” in the years ahead.
Musk also appeared to align more closely with other Republican contenders, hinting that figures like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis or Senator Tim Scott might better reflect “the future of American conservatism.”
Those remarks did not sit well with Trump, who interpreted them as disloyal and opportunistic.
“He came to me asking for support when Tesla was struggling. He asked for government subsidies—he got what he needed,” Trump claimed. “Now he turns around and plays into the hands of the left. It’s sad.”
A Complex Relationship
The Trump-Musk relationship has long been a mix of admiration and ideological distance. While Trump championed American industry and occasionally praised Musk’s innovation, the two often diverged on topics such as climate change, artificial intelligence regulation, and COVID-19 policies.
In 2017, Musk left Trump’s economic advisory council in protest of the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement. Yet the former president continued to describe Musk as “a very smart guy” in public appearances until recently.
Political analysts note that this latest clash could represent a deeper split between two powerful figures vying for influence over the American right.
“Trump represents the old guard of Republican populism, while Musk is seen as a libertarian futurist,” said Dana Hargrove, a political commentator. “This may not just be a personal spat—it’s a symbolic fracture within the GOP base.”
Social Media Reactions and Fallout
The online response was immediate and polarized. Trump supporters rallied behind the former president, accusing Musk of “elitist betrayal.” Meanwhile, Musk’s defenders praised him for speaking candidly about what they view as Trump’s divisiveness.
#TrumpVsMusk trended on X shortly after Trump’s statement was posted to Truth Social, his social media platform.
Musk, known for his often unfiltered posts, has yet to respond directly to Trump’s latest remarks. However, he did repost a quote shortly after the backlash began:
“A mind that cannot be questioned is a mind that fears the truth.”
What Comes Next?
With the 2026 midterm elections approaching and speculation swirling about Trump’s political future, the fallout from this dispute may have larger implications. It could influence donor dynamics, conservative media narratives, and the direction of the Republican Party’s tech and innovation policies.
Whether this public rift escalates into a full-blown political rivalry or settles into silence remains to be seen. For now, however, the clash between Donald Trump and Elon Musk underscores a growing divide between traditional populism and the evolving tech-libertarian ideology shaping parts of America’s right-wing future.
