If you’ve been watching the chaos on X lately, you know the vibe between Elon Musk and Donald Trump changes faster than a Tesla in Ludicrous Mode. One day they’re "first buddies" reshaping the federal budget, and the next, they’re trading digital haymakers that leave the market shaking. Honestly, keeping track of every Elon Musk tweet about Trump is a full-time job.
Most people remember the "bromance" of late 2024. Musk poured over $200 million into the campaign, hopped around on stage in Pennsylvania, and basically became the co-pilot of the MAGA movement. But 2025 and early 2026 haven't been quite as smooth. We’ve seen a rollercoaster of public breakups, "scathing" deletions, and now, a very weird, very high-stakes reunion involving Starlink and international diplomacy.
The "Abomination" Tweet That Almost Ended Everything
Things got messy in June 2025. You might remember it as the week the internet collectively gasped. Musk, who was supposedly leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), suddenly turned his sights on Trump’s signature "Big, Beautiful Bill."
He didn't just disagree with it. He went nuclear.
Musk fired off a tweet calling the spending bill a "disgusting abomination." He claimed it would add $2.4 trillion to the national debt. For a guy who was hired to cut costs, he felt the administration was doing the exact opposite. But then he took it a step further—something he later admitted "went too far." He actually started sharing posts suggesting Trump should be impeached and even made wild, unsubstantiated claims about the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Trump, never one to let a jab go unanswered, hit back on Truth Social. He threatened to pull SpaceX’s government contracts and mocked Musk’s "worthless" Twitter purchase. It looked like the world's most powerful alliance had imploded in under 72 hours.
The Great Walkback
By Wednesday of that same week, the tone shifted. Musk posted: "I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far."
It wasn't just a random change of heart. Reports suggest JD Vance and Susie Wiles were working the phones like crazy to broker a peace deal. Tesla’s stock was dipping, and SpaceX’s future was on the line. Musk deleted the most inflammatory tweets, and Trump—in a classic "I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed" move—told reporters he thought the apology was "very nice."
Why the Elon Musk Tweet About Trump Matters for 2026
Fast forward to right now, January 2026. If you look at Musk’s feed today, the "feud" seems like ancient history, but the scars are there. We’re seeing a new kind of partnership—one that’s more transactional than emotional.
Just this week, Trump publicly signaled he’s leaning on Musk to handle the internet blackout in Iran. Trump told reporters on Air Force One that he plans to "speak to Elon" about using Starlink to bypass the regime’s censorship. Musk’s response? A simple heart emoji and a resharing of the clip.
It’s a bizarre dynamic. Musk is no longer a formal "special government employee" (his 130-day stint ended in May 2025), yet he's acting like a shadow Secretary of State.
The DOGE Legacy
Even though Musk "left" his formal role at DOGE to focus on Tesla's robotaxi launch, his influence is baked into the administration. The goal for DOGE is still to "delete itself" by July 4, 2026. Musk’s tweets aren't just random thoughts; they’re often signals to the "DOGE teams" embedded in federal agencies.
When Musk tweets about "government waste," agency heads start sweating. He’s used his 200+ million followers as a digital firing squad to pressure bureaucrats. It's effective, sure, but it's also created a massive rift with Democrats who call it "rule by tweet."
What Most People Get Wrong About Their Relationship
People love to put these two in a box. Either they’re best friends or sworn enemies. The truth is way more boring: it’s business.
- It's about the Mandates: Musk’s biggest beef with Trump started over the "EV mandate." Trump wanted to kill subsidies that helped Tesla, and Musk realized that being "First Buddy" didn't mean he got everything he wanted.
- The "Free Speech" Shield: Musk often frames his support for Trump through the lens of the First Amendment. Whether you believe him or not, that's the narrative he uses every time he defends a controversial Trump policy on X.
- The Power Balance: In 2024, Musk had the leverage because of his money. In 2026, Trump has the leverage because he holds the keys to the federal budget and SpaceX's launch licenses.
The 2026 Midterm Push
We’re already seeing Musk start to pour money into the 2026 midterms. Reports from December 2025 show he’s writing massive checks to help Republicans keep the House and Senate. Why? Because a hostile Congress could investigate his companies or block his "efficiency" recommendations.
Every Elon Musk tweet about Trump lately has been focused on this unified front. He’s eulogizing conservative influencers like Scott Adams and boosting Trump’s latest foreign policy moves. It’s a coordinated effort to ensure that by the time July 4, 2026, rolls around, they can claim a total victory over the "Deep State."
How to Track the Narrative (Without Losing Your Mind)
If you're trying to stay ahead of the next market-moving tweet, you've gotta look past the noise.
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- Watch the "Replies": Musk often reveals his true thoughts in the replies to small accounts rather than his main posts.
- Check the Deletions: Use archive tools. Musk is famous for "post and delete" when he realizes he’s crossed a legal line.
- Follow the Contracts: If you see a tweet criticizing a specific agency (like the FAA or NASA), check if SpaceX has a pending contract there. There is almost always a correlation.
The relationship between Elon Musk and Donald Trump is the most important "frenemy" dynamic in the world. It’s a mix of high-stakes tech, old-school populism, and enough ego to fill a Starship rocket. Whether they're sharing a "lovely dinner" at Mar-a-Lago or calling each other names on social media, the outcome affects everything from your taxes to the future of AI.
Actionable Insights for the Week Ahead:
Keep an eye on the official DOGE account (@DOGE) on X. While Musk is no longer the "head," he’s still the primary amplifier. If he starts tweeting about "Social Security fraud" or "NASA overruns" again, expect a policy announcement from the White House within 48 hours. The pattern is predictable once you see the strings.