When Billionaires Clash, the World Watches — But the Diaspora Must Strategize.
By The Haitian Pulse Editorial Team | June 5, 2025
Once allies in a mutually beneficial dance of influence, Donald Trump and Elon Musk have officially gone from mutual admiration to open warfare. The billionaire bromance that once seemed unshakable has collapsed in spectacular fashion, with both men launching scathing public attacks on each other — and with serious political and financial implications.
Trump's Retaliation: “Terminate Elon’s Subsidies”
In a series of explosive posts on Truth Social, Trump unleashed a barrage of accusations aimed at Musk. He claimed to have “taken away [Musk’s] EV Mandate that forced everyone to buy Electric Cars that nobody else wanted,” and said Musk “just went CRAZY!” Trump followed up with a veiled threat to Musk’s business empire, writing:
“The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts. I was always surprised that Biden didn’t do it!”
Trump's comments imply a willingness to target Musk’s federal contracts — a serious blow to companies like SpaceX and Tesla that have benefited heavily from government deals.
Musk Fires Back: “Trump is in the Epstein Files”
Musk, never one to stay silent, dropped a bombshell of his own on X (formerly Twitter), insinuating that Trump’s name is among those in the sealed Jeffrey Epstein documents.
“Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!”
Musk added ominously:
“Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out.”
This accusation, while unverified, dramatically escalated the feud and potentially signals Musk’s willingness to cross red lines in his war of words.
From Mutual Praise to Bitter Disappointment
The collapse of their relationship has been swift and public. Just months ago, Trump praised Musk as a visionary and claimed to have “helped Elon out a lot.” But as Musk began to publicly criticize Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill — calling it a “disgusting abomination” — the cracks began to show.
Trump, clearly stung, responded:
“He [Musk] knew everything about it. He had no problem with it… And I can understand that, but he knew every aspect of this bill. He knew it better than almost anybody… but I’m very disappointed in Elon.”
He later added:
“Look, Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will any more.”
Musk's Reminder: “Without Me, Trump Would Have Lost”
In a sharp rebuke, Musk insisted that Trump owed him politically, saying on X:
“Without me, Trump would have lost the election. Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51–49 in the Senate… Such ingratitude.”
Whether Musk is exaggerating his role or not, his point is clear: he sees himself as an indispensable player in the Republican landscape — one that Trump is foolish to alienate.
SEC Trouble Looms
Meanwhile, Musk is also battling a separate legal challenge from the SEC. The agency accuses him of failing to timely disclose his stake in Twitter (now X), allowing him to buy shares at artificially low prices. Musk and the SEC have extended the deadline for his response to July 18, but the case adds fuel to the fire Trump may stoke as he threatens to cut off Musk’s federal business lifelines.
The Bottom Line: From Alliance to Fallout
What was once a strategic relationship has turned into a political spectacle. Trump, ever focused on loyalty, feels betrayed. Musk, fiercely independent and publicly combative, refuses to fall in line. The result is a rift that’s no longer behind closed doors — it’s broadcast in real-time across competing platforms, dragging billions of dollars and political capital with it.
If there was ever a honeymoon between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, it’s long over. Now, all that remains is the fallout — and both men appear eager to escalate it further.
The Haitian Pulse Perspective
At The Haitian Pulse, we do more than report headlines — we decode them through a sharp, Afro-diasporic lens. The Trump–Musk fallout may seem like elite theatrics, but it’s more than a clash of egos. It’s a revealing moment about how fragile power alliances in America truly are — driven less by principle and more by contracts, influence, and personal gain.
For Haiti and the wider Black diaspora, this isn’t just drama to spectate. It’s a reminder that the powerful play games with billion-dollar stakes — and when their alliances fracture, it’s everyday people who often feel the ripple effects. We can't afford to be passive observers. We must stay informed, build our own alliances rooted in vision — not vanity — and move with collective strategy.
We encourage our readers, especially across the Haitian and Black communities, to treat this spectacle not with awe, but with purpose. Understand their moves — then make your own.
Drop a comment and let your voice pulse through the conversation.
This is The Haitian Pulse — where the diaspora stays sharp, and the news hits different.
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