The already tumultuous relationship between President Donald Trump and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk took a sharp turn in 2020 when the two met to discuss the future of Tesla’s manufacturing plans. According to reports, Trump became aware that Musk was considering building a Tesla factory in Mexico rather than Texas, prompting the President to summon him to the White House for a discussion.
However, the meeting quickly turned sour. A source told Politico that before their face-to-face encounter, Musk had privately referred to Trump as a “f***ing moron” inside the White House. Furthermore, he reportedly dismissed the grandeur of the White House itself.
“We walk into the Oval, and he kind of looks around, and he’s looking around,” the source, who was present in the room, recounted. “He’s like, ‘Gosh, I tell you. I mean, I was just in China and man, their palaces just make the White House kind of look more like an outhouse.’” The remark reportedly left Trump fuming while his aides remained silent.
A history of clashes and departures among Musk and Trump
Musk and Trump’s relationship has been marked by a series of public disputes and reconciliations, often dictated by political and business interests. In 2017, when Trump announced the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord, Musk, who had been serving on three of Trump’s advisory councils, publicly distanced himself.
“Am departing presidential councils,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter). “Climate change is real. Leaving Paris is not good for America or the world.”
Tensions flared again in 2022 as Musk pursued his controversial acquisition of Twitter. At the time, Musk suggested that Trump should “hang up his hat and sail into the sunset.” Trump, in response, took to Truth Social, accusing Musk of hypocrisy and claiming that the Tesla CEO had previously sought his help on various government-subsidized projects.
“When Elon Musk came to the White House asking me for help on all of his many subsidized projects, whether it’s electric cars that don’t drive long enough, driverless cars that crash, or rocket ships to nowhere, without which subsidies he’d be worthless, and telling me how he was a big Trump fan and Republican, I could have said, ‘drop to your knees and beg,’ and he would have done it,” Trump wrote, posting a photo of their Oval Office meeting.
From rivals to political allies
Despite their past clashes, Musk and Trump have since mended fences—at least in part due to financial considerations. During the 2024 election cycle, Musk emerged as one of Trump’s most significant financial backers, contributing nearly $300 million to his campaign. This sizable donation not only made Musk Trump’s biggest donor but also positioned him as one of the former president’s closest advisers.
As Musk continues to wield influence in political and technological spheres, his complex relationship with Trump remains a testament to the intersection of power, money, and ambition in American politics.
