N’DJAMENA, Chad — Chad on Thursday announced it will suspend the issuance of visas to U.S. citizens, following its inclusion in a U.S. travel ban that targets nationals from 12 countries. The move, confirmed by President Idriss Deby in a Facebook post, marks a diplomatic escalation in response to the administration of President Donald Trump.
“I have instructed the government to act in accordance with the principles of reciprocity and suspend the issuance of visas to U.S. citizens,” Deby said. The Chadian leader framed the response as a matter of national dignity, stating, “Chad has no planes to offer, no billions of dollars to give, but Chad has its dignity and pride,” in what appeared to be a pointed reference to Qatar’s recent $400 million jet gift to President Trump.
Chad is among seven African nations named in the expanded U.S. travel restrictions announced earlier this week, which apply heightened scrutiny and visa limitations on citizens from a dozen predominantly African and Middle Eastern countries. The decision sparked criticism across several capitals and has been viewed in some quarters as a setback to U.S.-Africa diplomatic relations.
The Chadian government did not specify whether the visa suspension would apply to all categories of travel, including diplomatic, business, and tourism visas, or whether exceptions would be made.
The Trump administration has defended its expanded travel restrictions as necessary for national security, citing concerns over information-sharing protocols and vetting processes in affected countries. However, critics, including human rights organizations and foreign governments, have called the move discriminatory and warned it could further isolate the United States diplomatically.
The travel restrictions have drawn protests and calls for reciprocity in several African capitals, with Chad now taking the lead in publicly implementing a retaliatory policy. It is unclear whether other nations included in the U.S. ban will follow suit.
Chad, a landlocked country in Central Africa, has been a key U.S. security partner in the Sahel region. It has participated in regional counterterrorism initiatives and hosted American military personnel in past joint operations. The diplomatic fallout could complicate future collaboration between the two countries, particularly on counterterror and humanitarian efforts.
NEW YORK — Tesla shares plunged 14% Thursday, wiping out $150 billion in market capitalization, after a high-profile feud erupted between President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, escalating tensions that spooked investors and fueled concerns about regulatory retaliation against the electric carmaker.
The selloff came after Musk responded sharply to Trump’s criticism of his opposition to the administration’s tax bill, prompting Trump to accuse the billionaire of lashing out because the legislation ends federal incentives for electric vehicle purchases. Musk, who once called Trump his “First Buddy,” fired back on social media, denouncing the administration’s budget as a threat to innovation and clean energy.
The fallout marked one of the steepest single-day declines in Tesla’s history and further strained the relationship between Musk and Trump, a dynamic that had once appeared mutually beneficial.
The White House’s budget proposal aims to phase out the $7,500 EV subsidy by the end of 2025, a move that could cost Tesla as much as $1.2 billion annually, according to J.P. Morgan. A separate bill in the Senate targeting California’s EV mandates could slash another $2 billion in regulatory credit revenue.
Trump intensified the rhetoric Thursday on his Truth Social platform, writing: “The easiest way to save money in our Budget, billions and billions of dollars, is to terminate Elon’s governmental subsidies and contracts.”
Tesla’s troubles now stretch beyond the financial realm. The U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have already been scrutinizing Tesla’s driver-assistance system known as “Full Self-Driving,” especially after a fatal crash. Tesla is also seeking approval to deploy a fleet of steering-wheel-free robotaxis — a process that hinges on federal regulators.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has moved to ease safety rules for autonomous vehicles, but analysts warn that Tesla, which relies solely on camera-based systems instead of lidar or radar, may be singled out under future regulations.
“With President Trump, being on his bad side always creates risk that you’re going to get personal retaliation,” said Seth Goldstein, an analyst at Morningstar. He noted that while regulatory retribution is uncertain, Tesla’s reliance on camera-only tech makes it vulnerable if lidar becomes a mandated standard.
The clash stunned Wall Street, which has been closely watching Musk’s pivot toward autonomous vehicle technology. On past earnings calls, Musk insisted that if investors didn’t believe in Tesla’s full self-driving vision, they should sell their stock.
“Elon’s politics continue to harm the stock,” said Dennis Dick, chief strategist at Stock Trader Network and a Tesla shareholder. “First he aligned with Trump, alienating progressive buyers. Now, he’s turned on Trump, which creates political and regulatory blowback.”
Tesla’s recent stock performance has reflected the volatility. After surging 169% following Musk’s endorsement of Trump in July 2024, shares tumbled 54% through early April as backlash and consumer boycotts took hold in the U.S., China and Europe. The latest drop erodes a chunk of Tesla’s gains, despite it remaining the world’s most valuable automaker with a market cap above $850 billion — still far ahead of Toyota’s $290 billion.
Ross Gerber, CEO of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management, said the dispute now poses a direct threat to Tesla’s operations. “This creates a negative force against Tesla that could derail its regulatory momentum and trigger more government scrutiny,” he said.
Following Thursday’s steep selloff, Musk’s personal fortune declined by approximately $27 billion, falling to $388 billion, according to Forbes. The billionaire has been a prominent face in the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) federal cost-cutting initiative, but reports suggest he has distanced himself from Washington to focus on Tesla and his other ventures.
Tesla, which trades at 150 times forward earnings, continues to draw criticism for its lofty valuation. “I am short Tesla. I don’t understand it. I don’t understand its valuation or its fundamentals. I think it’s overhyped,” said Bob Doll, chief investment officer at Crossmark Global Investments.
As Tesla braces for more turbulence, analysts caution that the political storm between Trump and Musk could cast a long shadow over the company’s growth plans, especially as it leans harder into autonomy and federal regulators take center stage.
CHELMSFORD, Mass. — A Massachusetts high school student arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement while heading to volleyball practice last weekend was released from federal custody Thursday after an immigration judge granted bond, following days of public outcry and legal action.
Eighteen-year-old Marcelo Gomes da Silva, a junior at Milford High School, was released after Immigration Judge Jenny Beverly approved a $2,000 bond during a hearing in Chelmsford. The Brazilian national, who has lived in the U.S. since 2012, was taken into custody during a traffic stop Saturday in what advocates and attorneys described as an unjustified arrest under President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration enforcement.
Gomes, who arrived in the U.S. on a student visa that has since lapsed, had been driving his father’s vehicle when he was stopped by ICE agents. According to Todd Lyons, acting director of the Boston ICE field office, the teenager was not the original subject of the agency’s investigation. Authorities were seeking his father, who has not been detained.
“He’s in this country illegally, and we’re not going to walk away from anybody,” Lyons told reporters Monday, defending the arrest.
The case quickly drew widespread attention in Massachusetts, triggering protests and support from classmates, immigration advocates, and legal organizations. Dozens of students gathered outside the immigration court Thursday, erupting in cheers after learning of the judge’s decision.
Miriam Conrad, an attorney representing Gomes, condemned the arrest in a statement as “pointless and cruel.”
In a brief video posted by GBH News, Gomes said he spent his days in federal detention praying. “It’s not a good place,” he said.
The arrest also prompted a federal legal challenge. U.S. District Judge George O’Toole issued an order barring ICE from transferring Gomes outside of Massachusetts without providing 48 hours’ notice. The lawsuit filed on his behalf asserts that while his visa had expired, Gomes intends to file for asylum and should not have been detained without due process.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, did not respond to requests for comment regarding the arrest or his release.
Gomes is now back with his family in Milford, a suburb of Boston, as his immigration case proceeds. His legal team is expected to move forward with asylum proceedings in the coming weeks.
WASHINGTON — In a sweeping and unprecedented rebuke of the International Criminal Court, President Donald Trump’s administration on Thursday imposed sanctions on four ICC judges involved in cases targeting Israeli and American nationals, intensifying tensions between Washington and the international tribunal based in The Hague.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the sanctions against Judges Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda, Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza of Peru, Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini Gansou of Benin, and Beti Hohler of Slovenia. In a statement, Rubio condemned the ICC for what he described as “illegitimate and baseless actions” in pursuing investigations into U.S. troops in Afghanistan and the recent issuance of an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“As ICC judges, these four individuals have actively engaged in the ICC’s politicized campaign against the United States and our close ally, Israel,” Rubio said. “The ICC continues to assert unchecked authority, targeting democracies while shielding repressive regimes.”
The ICC responded strongly, denouncing the move as a deliberate attack on judicial independence and a threat to the rule of international law. The court said the sanctions undermine its efforts to deliver justice for victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Judges Bossa and Ibanez Carranza have served on the ICC bench since 2018 and were part of a 2020 appeals chamber decision that allowed the court’s prosecutor to formally investigate alleged war crimes by U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Although that probe was deprioritized in 2021 in favor of examining Taliban and Afghan government abuses, it remains a source of U.S. frustration.
Judges Alapini Gansou and Hohler were among those who authorized the arrest warrants issued last November for Netanyahu, former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri. The ICC alleges that the men committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during the conflict in Gaza. Israel, which is not a party to the Rome Statute, has rejected the court’s authority.
The Trump administration’s latest measures follow earlier sanctions in 2020 targeting then-ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and her top aide over the Afghanistan investigation. In January, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution condemning the ICC’s decision to pursue Netanyahu, signaling broad Republican support for Israel.
Human rights groups reacted with alarm. Liz Evenson, international justice director at Human Rights Watch, called the sanctions a “flagrant attack on the rule of law” and said they were part of a broader strategy by Trump to undermine democratic norms both internationally and domestically.
“These sanctions punish independent judges for doing their jobs—upholding international law and pursuing accountability for victims,” Evenson said.
The penalties block the judges from accessing assets or conducting financial transactions within the U.S. banking system, which could severely affect their personal and professional lives. However, the Treasury Department issued a general license allowing the winding down of existing transactions through July 8, provided funds are held in a blocked, interest-bearing account in the United States.
The action comes as the ICC faces growing internal and external challenges. Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan, already under U.S. sanctions, stepped aside temporarily in May amid a United Nations probe into alleged sexual misconduct.
Established in 2002, the ICC is mandated to prosecute genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes committed on the territory of member states or referred by the U.N. Security Council. The United States, Israel, Russia, and China are not members, and none recognize the court’s jurisdiction.
Despite that, the ICC has pursued high-profile investigations in recent years, including the Israel-Hamas war, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and human rights abuses in Myanmar, Sudan, Venezuela, and the Philippines. It has issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Netanyahu—warrants that have drawn fierce opposition from both countries, which deny the allegations and reject the court’s authority.
DENPASAR, Indonesia — Authorities in Bali have arrested multiple foreign nationals, including an Australian, an Indian, and an American, on narcotics-related charges that could lead to the death penalty under Indonesia’s strict drug laws.
Officials from the Bali Province branch of the National Narcotics Agency announced Thursday that customs officers at Ngurah Rai International Airport detained an Indian citizen, identified by the initials H.V., on May 29 after discovering drug-related items in a duffel bag during a customs inspection. Authorities said the bag had been brought from Los Angeles.
Interrogation of the Indian suspect led authorities to arrest an Australian man, P.R., who has reportedly been visiting Bali since 1988. According to I Made Sinar Subawa, a senior official with the narcotics agency, P.R. had asked H.V. to transport the duffel bag from the United States to Indonesia.
A subsequent search of a residence linked to P.R. uncovered multiple narcotics, including 191 grams of hashish, marijuana weighing 488 grams, and cannabis-infused candies containing tetrahydrocannabinol. Subawa said the drugs had been purchased via the Telegram messaging app and were shipped to Bali through intermediaries in Los Angeles and the Philippines.
Both H.V. and P.R. are under suspicion of trafficking illegal substances, and P.R. now faces potential charges under Indonesia’s Narcotics Law. The law permits capital punishment, life imprisonment, or a custodial sentence ranging from four to twelve years, depending on the severity of the offense.
In a separate case, an American national identified as W.M. was arrested on May 23 while retrieving a parcel from a Bali post office. Authorities said the package contained seven silver packets with a total of 99 amphetamine pills. A cellphone was also seized as evidence.
During a news conference held in Denpasar on Thursday, law enforcement officials presented narcotics and other seized materials recovered during the arrests. All suspects will face trial under Indonesia’s judicial system.
Indonesia enforces some of the harshest drug laws in the world, with possession, trafficking, or smuggling offenses often resulting in severe punishments. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has labeled the country a major drug-smuggling hub, with transnational syndicates targeting its youthful population.
Recent incidents have further highlighted the intensifying crackdown. On May 27, an Australian national was detained for allegedly smuggling cocaine. Earlier this week, three British nationals were formally charged in a Bali court for attempting to smuggle over two pounds of cocaine into the country.
Current figures from Indonesia’s Ministry of Immigration and Corrections reveal that approximately 530 people are on death row for drug-related crimes, including 96 foreign nationals. The most recent executions in Indonesia took place in July 2016, involving one Indonesian and three foreign nationals, all convicted of narcotics offenses.
HONOLULU — A U.S. Army soldier stationed in Hawaii was sentenced Thursday to 23 years in military prison after pleading guilty to killing his pregnant wife with a machete, dismembering her body, and discarding her remains in a dumpster in an effort to cover up the crime.
Pfc. Dewayne Johnson II, of the 25th Infantry Division, admitted in military court to the voluntary manslaughter of his 19-year-old wife, Mischa Johnson, who was six months pregnant at the time of her death on July 12, 2024. He also pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and making false official statements, according to the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel.
Mischa Johnson’s body has not been recovered. Johnson testified that he killed his wife during an argument in their home at Schofield Barracks on Oahu. He said the confrontation escalated after she shouted that their unborn child would grow up never knowing him. In response, Johnson struck her on the head with a machete, he told the court. After realizing she had no pulse, Johnson claimed he panicked and did not intend to kill her.
“I couldn’t picture my life without my child,” Johnson said in court. “I regret, I shouldn’t have done it.”
In a grisly attempt to hide the killing, Johnson used a chainsaw to dismember his wife’s body, placing the remains in garbage bags which he then deposited in a dumpster on the military base. He told investigators he believed the trash was incinerated soon afterward.
More than two weeks later, on July 31, Johnson reported his wife missing and joined public search efforts around Oahu. However, on August 27, Army investigators arrested him and charged him with her murder after uncovering blood, DNA evidence, and other incriminating materials inside their home.
Johnson, originally from Frederick, Maryland, received the maximum sentence allowed under military law. As part of a plea deal, child sexual abuse image charges were dropped. In addition to his prison term, Johnson’s rank was reduced to private, and he was dishonorably discharged from the military. He will serve his sentence at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
Mischa Johnson’s family continues to grapple with the devastating loss. Her sister, Marianna Tapiz, told KITV the emotional toll has been immense.
“It was shocking and painful to hear what happened to her,” Tapiz said. “As a family, we’re just trying not to focus on the horrific details of her last moment with him. Right now, we’re trying to remember the happy memories and remember her in that life.”
Army prosecutor Lt. Col. Nicholas Hurd expressed hope that the outcome of the case may help the family begin to heal.
“While no amount of confinement will ever be able to truly ease the pain of the loss of Ms. Johnson and her unborn child, it is my hope that Pfc. Johnson’s admissions of guilt and the information he provided as part of the plea agreement can provide some element of closure and finality for the family and all stakeholders,” Hurd said in a statement.
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — Israel announced Thursday it had recovered the bodies of two Israeli-American hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault, as its ongoing military campaign intensified across the Gaza Strip, killing at least 22 Palestinians, including three journalists.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that the remains of Judith Weinstein, 70, and Gad Haggai, 72, were retrieved in a joint operation by the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet security agency. The couple, who were both citizens of Israel and the United States — with Weinstein also holding Canadian citizenship — were killed during the initial Hamas incursion and taken into Gaza, Israeli military officials said.
“Together with all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I extend our heartfelt condolences to the dear families,” Netanyahu said. “Our hearts ache for the most terrible loss. May their memory be blessed.”
The couple, longtime residents of Kibbutz Nir Oz, were out for an early morning walk when militants crossed into Israel, launching a surprise attack that claimed 1,200 lives and resulted in the abduction of 251 hostages. Weinstein, a special education teacher born in New York, was known for teaching meditation to children suffering from trauma due to repeated rocket fire from Gaza. Haggai, a retired chef and jazz musician, was beloved in his community for his warmth and artistry.
The military said the Mujahideen Brigades, a small Palestinian militant faction, was responsible for taking the couple’s bodies, as well as for the abduction and killing of Shiri Bibas and her two children. Weinstein and Haggai’s remains were recovered from the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis in an overnight operation.
Their daughter, Iris Haggai Liniado, expressed gratitude to the Israeli military, the U.S. and Israeli governments, and the FBI. “My beautiful parents have been freed. We have certainty,” she wrote in a Facebook post. The kibbutz reported the couple is survived by four children and seven grandchildren.
Amid the recovery mission, Israeli strikes across Gaza claimed the lives of at least 22 people. Two airstrikes in Gaza City killed nine, including a child and a woman, according to health officials. Witnesses said one strike hit a crowded area where residents were lining up for flour. “We want to bring food to our children,” said Abu Farah, a local resident. “We’re not asking for anything more.”
In Khan Younis, another 10 Palestinians were killed overnight. It was not clear whether the strikes were directly connected to the hostage recovery operation.
In a separate incident, three journalists were killed in a strike on the courtyard of al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, along with six other individuals who were wounded. The Israeli military said the strike targeted a member of Islamic Jihad. Gaza’s Health Ministry did not immediately name the journalists.
The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists reported that more than 180 journalists and media workers have been killed in the conflict, most of them in Gaza. Israel maintains that many of those killed were combatants using press credentials as cover.
Efforts to distribute humanitarian aid in Gaza faced a new setback after a deadly attack on a convoy. The Palestinian-run Special Transport Association said it was suspending operations following a gunman assault that killed a driver and wounded three others as the convoy moved toward Deir al-Balah.
Aid distribution in Gaza has become increasingly dangerous, with armed attacks on convoys mounting. While Israel accuses Hamas of stealing and obstructing aid deliveries, some workers say criminal gangs operating near Israeli-controlled zones are responsible. The area of the latest attack borders an Israeli military buffer zone.
The United Nations has struggled to distribute supplies despite a limited resumption of aid flows in recent weeks. Routes remain perilous, and access is constrained by Israeli military restrictions, according to U.N. officials. The prolonged blockade has brought Gaza’s population of more than 2 million to the edge of famine.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a U.S.-based contractor, resumed food distribution on Thursday after halting activity a day earlier to review safety protocols. GHF reported distributing the equivalent of 8.5 million meals since May 26, enough to provide one daily meal to over one-third of Gaza’s population.
Meanwhile, near-daily shootings have been reported at food distribution sites. Palestinians accuse Israeli troops of firing on civilians, while the Israeli military said its forces only fire warning shots or engage when people approach soldiers. Gaza hospitals report more than 80 deaths and hundreds of injuries at distribution points.
Since October 7, Israel has carried out a relentless air and ground campaign against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, over 54,000 Palestinians — mostly women and children — have been killed, though the agency does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
The offensive has devastated the enclave, leveling entire neighborhoods and displacing an estimated 90% of Gaza’s population.
Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas’ initial attack, 56 remain in captivity, about a third of whom are believed to be alive. Israel has rescued eight living hostages and recovered numerous bodies, including Weinstein and Haggai.
As the conflict grinds on with no clear end in sight, international calls for a ceasefire have grown louder, though diplomatic efforts remain stalled.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump launched a fiery personal attack on Elon Musk Thursday, accusing the billionaire of suffering from “Trump Derangement Syndrome” amid their intensifying feud over the Republican Party’s sweeping new spending legislation. The president also threatened to revoke billions in federal subsidies and contracts awarded to Musk’s companies, Tesla and SpaceX.
The clash between the tech magnate and the president marks a dramatic breakdown in their once close working relationship and has rapidly escalated into one of the most consequential power struggles between a sitting president and a top business figure in recent memory.
“Cutting him off is the easiest way to save billions,” Trump posted on Truth Social, referring to Musk’s companies. “Frankly, I was surprised Biden didn’t already do it.”
The feud began earlier this week when Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, condemned Trump’s flagship tax-and-spending bill as a “disgusting abomination,” claiming it was packed with wasteful spending and biased against the clean energy sector. The legislation, which includes $350 billion in border enforcement, tax extensions, and cuts to social safety nets, is currently under debate in the Senate after passing the House.
“This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination,” Musk posted on X. “Shame on those who voted for it — you know you did wrong.”
Musk criticized the rollback of electric vehicle subsidies embedded in the bill and said it unfairly benefits fossil fuel industries while undercutting clean tech, including Tesla’s core business.
At a White House press briefing Thursday morning, Trump fired back, accusing Musk of being disgruntled over the bill’s impact on his financial interests. He dismissed Musk’s influence and claimed the billionaire was bitter after losing access to the administration’s inner circle.
“He used to come around here, used to be helpful, then started losing his mind — classic Trump Derangement Syndrome,” Trump said. He added that Musk’s suggestion of appointing private astronaut Jared Isaacman to lead NASA was “totally inappropriate” and “something only a Democrat would come up with.”
Musk immediately responded online, accusing Trump of turning on him after receiving his backing in the 2024 election. The billionaire, who claims to have donated over $250 million to Trump’s campaign, said he helped secure Republican victories in key battlegrounds.
“Without me, Trump would have lost,” Musk posted. “Such ingratitude.”
The fallout sent shockwaves through markets, with Tesla’s stock plunging as much as 15% on Thursday — following Trump’s threat to terminate federal contracts. The company’s shares had already been sliding due to poor 2025 sales performance and growing investor concern over Musk’s political entanglements.
Trump’s warning could endanger significant streams of funding for Musk’s companies. Tesla has received over $11 billion in regulatory credits and subsidies, while SpaceX, which holds numerous defense and NASA contracts, has drawn more than $22 billion from the federal government, according to estimates.
The standoff places GOP leaders in a precarious position as they attempt to pass Trump’s spending package by his target date of July 4. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has little margin for dissent in the chamber’s slim 53-seat Republican majority.
Although some senators — including Rand Paul and Mike Lee — echoed Musk’s concerns about federal spending, most GOP leaders stood by Trump.
“Elon has a loud voice and a lot of money, but he’s still second fiddle to President Trump,” said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.
The Trump-Musk feud has exposed a deeper tension within the Republican Party — pitting the political power of its standard-bearer against the economic clout of its wealthiest backer. While Trump remains the dominant figure among the GOP base, Musk’s influence in corporate and donor circles could complicate the party’s legislative path.
With the Senate fight over the spending bill intensifying and Tesla’s financial fortunes tied to the outcome, the GOP finds itself caught between its two most powerful figures — one in the White House, the other in Silicon Valley.
WASHINGTON — The volatile relationship between President Donald Trump and tech magnate Elon Musk erupted into a full-scale feud Thursday, as both men exchanged insults and threats on their competing social media platforms over a contentious Republican spending bill.
The dispute began after Musk launched a blistering critique of Trump’s legislative centerpiece — a sweeping tax and spending package dubbed the “big, beautiful bill” — on his social media platform X. Trump, speaking during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, accused the Tesla CEO of betrayal and hinted that the U.S. government might reevaluate its financial ties with Musk’s companies.
“I’m very disappointed in Elon,” Trump said from the Oval Office. “I’ve helped Elon a lot. He knew the bill inside and out.”
The bill, currently under Senate consideration, includes provisions that would eliminate subsidies critical to Musk’s electric vehicle company, Tesla, as part of broader federal spending cuts. In retaliation, Musk escalated his public criticism, accusing Trump of hypocrisy and suggesting the president’s name appeared in documents tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — a claim the White House has not addressed.
The clash marks a stunning reversal in a once-close alliance. Musk, the world’s richest man, donated over $250 million to Trump’s 2024 campaign and was appointed to head the Department of Government Efficiency following Trump’s reelection. The department, known as DOGE, implemented aggressive federal workforce reductions and interagency audits under Musk’s leadership — actions Trump hailed as revolutionary.
But tensions began to rise as Trump shifted his focus to a costly fiscal agenda. Musk, who left the administration just last week, cited ballooning deficit concerns and what he called wasteful subsidies embedded in the GOP bill.
“I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly,” Musk told CBS in his final interview as a government official. “It increases the budget deficit and undermines DOGE’s work.”
The Congressional Budget Office on Wednesday projected the proposed legislation would add $2.4 trillion to the national debt over the next decade — a figure fueling Musk’s opposition.
Tesla, the leading U.S. electric vehicle manufacturer, has seen its sales decline amid intensifying competition and political fallout linked to Musk’s public stances. Since departing the White House, Musk has returned full-time to overseeing Tesla and SpaceX, both of which hold substantial federal contracts. However, Tesla’s stock has fallen over 20% this year, with analysts citing regulatory uncertainties and investor discomfort with Musk’s political entanglements.
Trump, defending the bill, said Musk was motivated by financial self-interest. “Elon’s upset because we removed the EV mandate. It was billions in subsidies for electric vehicles, and they’re struggling,” the president said. “He knew this from the start.”
On X, Musk dismissed Trump’s criticism with a curt “whatever,” before launching into a flurry of posts. “Without me, Trump would have lost the election,” he wrote. “Such ingratitude.”
The feud intensified later Thursday as Trump responded on Truth Social, accusing Musk of a breakdown after being asked to resign. “Elon went crazy after I asked him to leave,” Trump posted, also hinting at the possibility of canceling federal contracts with Musk’s companies.
Musk countered by implying Trump was referenced in the so-called “Epstein files,” referring to a batch of documents related to investigations into Jeffrey Epstein. While Trump and Epstein were known to have socialized in the past, there have been no credible allegations linking the president to Epstein’s crimes. Trump has repeatedly denied any involvement.
The White House declined to comment on Musk’s accusation.
The public unraveling of their relationship stands in stark contrast to the praise Trump lavished on Musk just days ago. On Musk’s final day in government, Trump had said, “Elon’s service to America has been without comparison in modern history.” He added that Musk would continue to play an advisory role, saying, “It’s his baby, and I think he’ll still be doing a lot.”
Now, with both men locked in a deeply personal and politically consequential dispute, the future of their alliance — and of Trump’s high-stakes economic agenda — hangs in the balance.
WASHINGTON — Tech billionaire Elon Musk declared Thursday that President Donald Trump would have lost the 2024 election without his support, intensifying a high-profile feud between the two former allies that erupted earlier in the day.
FILE – Elon Musk, left, shakes hands with President Donald Trump at the finals for the NCAA wrestling championship, March 22, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
“Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate,” Musk posted on his social media platform X. “Such ingratitude,” he added.
Musk’s latest comments come after days of withering criticism of Trump’s legislative centerpiece, a sweeping tax and spending bill that Musk has repeatedly labeled a “pork-filled abomination.” The rift marks a sharp turn for the Tesla and SpaceX CEO, who played a prominent role in Trump’s successful 2024 campaign and served until last week as head of the Department of Government Efficiency.
Musk, who spent millions backing Trump’s re-election bid, joined the president frequently on the trail and touted his work to streamline government operations. But since leaving the administration, Musk has become one of the loudest voices opposing Trump’s fiscal policy agenda, urging Congress to reject the president’s “big, beautiful bill.”
Speaking from the Oval Office alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump acknowledged Musk’s recent criticism and expressed surprise at the public falling out.
“I’ve always liked Elon. And so I was very surprised,” Trump said. “You saw the words he had for me, and he hasn’t said anything about me that’s bad. I’d rather have him criticize me than the bill. Because the bill is incredible.”
Trump added, “Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will any more.”
Musk responded swiftly on X, doubling down on his opposition to the legislation and mocking Trump’s branding of the bill. “A bill cannot be both big and beautiful,” he posted.
Musk had previously characterized the proposal — which extends 2017-era tax cuts and includes hundreds of billions for border security and defense — as fiscally reckless. He has accused lawmakers of betraying voters by advancing the bill, which would curtail subsidies benefiting Tesla and other electric vehicle makers.
“In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people,” Musk wrote in another post, while circulating criticism of GOP lawmakers backing the bill.
The clash has placed some Republican leaders in a difficult position, caught between the party’s standard-bearer and one of its most influential financial backers. Musk, the world’s richest person, previously pledged to help defeat Republican incumbents who strayed from Trump’s agenda. Now, he appears poised to challenge those who advance it.
It remains unclear how Musk plans to wield his influence going forward. Despite suggesting he would scale back political donations, he has left open the possibility of intervening in the 2026 midterms “if I see a reason.”
The spending bill’s fate is still uncertain in the Senate, where Republicans hold a slim 53-seat majority. Two of the chamber’s most fiscally conservative members, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, have already echoed Musk’s concerns, citing excessive federal spending and inflation.
Even so, GOP loyalty to Trump remains strong. Republican strategists say that while Musk’s criticism is a disruption, it’s unlikely to shift party priorities.
“Elon Musk is a significant voice, but Trump still sets the tone for Republican voters,” said one senior GOP aide.
As tensions escalate between the tech mogul and the president he once supported, the growing public dispute underscores the challenges Republicans face in managing both internal dissent and external expectations heading into the next election cycle.
