Elon Musk distances himself from Donald Trump: 4 key reasons behind the rift

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has reportedly distanced himself from former U.S. President Donald Trump over the past four months, marking a sharp downturn in their previously cordial relationship. The rift has stirred global debate, especially as Musk faces a massive financial setback—losing an estimated $159 billion due to falling Tesla stock prices.

Also read: Elon Musk steps down from DOGE leadership, criticizes spending plan 

Here are four major reasons behind Musk's fallout with Trump:

• EV Subsidy Withdrawal: One of Trump’s bills reportedly rolled back electric vehicle subsidies, directly impacting Tesla sales and undermining Musk’s core business strategy.
• NASA Appointment Rejection: Musk had advocated for the appointment of his close associate, Jared Isaacman, as NASA administrator. Trump, however, declined the request, straining relations further.
• Controversial Government Role: Musk was named to lead a government cost-cutting initiative under Trump. The role, dubbed the head of “DOGE,” proved controversial and coincided with a decline in Tesla sales and even incidents of vehicles being vandalized. Musk eventually resigned from the post.
• Epstein Files Silence: Musk expressed concern that Trump is allegedly named in the Epstein Files—a scandal involving several powerful businessmen. Musk criticized Trump for not ensuring transparency and for ignoring Musk's calls for disclosure.

The combination of political disagreements, business setbacks, and scandal-related silence has reportedly led Musk to keep his distance. Meanwhile, speculation continues on whether the two billionaires will reconcile or remain at odds.