After weeks of silence, President Donald Trump has spoken out about his fractured relationship with Elon Musk.
The Tesla CEO departed politics in chaotic style just days before he was due to step down, making damning accusations of his former friend on Twitter. Among other things, he claimed the 79-year-old appears in the Epstein files and alleged that is the reason they haven't and won't be fully released.
However, he didn't provide any evidence and has since deleted his tweets.
The world’s richest man was working under a distinct role in the US government as a ‘special government employee’ - which allows him to work for up to 130 days in the office each year, before his official exit on May 28.
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So while his departure was expected, the Tesla owner has resigned three days earlier - and just a day after publicly criticizing President Donald Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’.
What has Elon Musk said about Donald Trump’s 'big bill'?
Speaking to CBS in a preview clip that aired on May 27, a day before the billionaire left politics, Musk said: "I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill frankly, which increases the budget deficit not just decrease it, and undermines the work that the Doge team is doing.
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"I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful... but I don't know if it could be both, my personal opinion."
The spending bill includes an increased in defence spending, including Trump's ambition to implement a 'Golden Dome' above the US which would protect it from enemy missiles, as well as multi-trillion dollar tax breaks.
It is believed that the new legislation could increase government spending by around $600 billion in the next fiscal year - which the SpaceX owner believed 'undermined' his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency.
Musk has continued to voice his displeasure, claiming it is 'a massive strategic error' that will damage green energy, leaving 'America extremely vulnerable in the future' and in 'debt slavery'.
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He also posted on Twitter: "The latest Senate draft bill will destroy millions of jobs in America and cause immense strategic harm to our country!
"Utterly insane and destructive. It gives handouts to industries of the past while severely damaging industries of the future."
How has Donald Trump responded to Elon Musk’s latest comments?
Despite the heavy criticism Trump's administration is facing on what seems to be a daily basis on Twitter from Musk, the Republican told Fox News yesterday (June 29) that he wishes the best for the South African.
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"I think he's a wonderful guy. I haven't spoken to him much, but I think Elon is a wonderful guy, and I know he's going to do well always," the POTUS said.
"He's a smart guy. And he actually went and campaigned with me and this and that," Trump added. "But he got a little bit upset, and that wasn't appropriate."
How did Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s feud start?
Musk was accused of making a 'Nazi salute' on two separate occasions while addressing MAGA supporters, at Trump's inauguration January 20.
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Musk controversially made the gesture on stage at the inauguration, immediately after saying: "Thank you for making it happen. Thank you, my heart goes out to you."
However, the billionaire denied this was his intention, and other defenders have argued he was doing a Roman salute, or was 'giving his heart to the crowd'.
Just days later, Musk went against his leader by claiming the president's $500 billion AI project that he plans on starting up doesn't 'actually have the money'.
Topics: Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Politics, US News, Twitter
Joe Yates