Musk and Trump: alliance, feud and reunion

After leaving the White House at the end of May 2025, Musk attacked Trump’s tax and spending bill. On 5 June the dispute exploded. Trump suggested cutting off Musk’s government subsidies and contracts; Musk posted that Trump “is in the Epstein files” and that this was why they had not been released. [1][2]

Musk gave no evidence and deleted the post. Days later he said some of his posts about Trump “went too far.” Trump is named in the files, as many people are; being named is not being accused. [3][4][5][8][9]

On 5 July, Musk said he had formed the America Party. In August the Wall Street Journal reported he had put it on hold; Musk disputed that. [6][7]

The Wall Street Journal reported in 2026 on how Trump and Musk rekindled their relationship. [1]

In May 2025 Musk said he would do “a lot less” political spending. By October 2026, filings showed more than $276 million from him to Republican groups since July, including $158 million to the Senate Leadership Fund and more than $76 million to America PAC, CNBC reported. That puts his 2025–26 spending at about $366 million, above his roughly $290 million in 2024. [2][3]

On 30 September 2026, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth named Musk, defense entrepreneur Palmer Luckey and Newt Gingrich to lead Project Meridian, a Pentagon review of the future of warfare. The Guardian noted that Musk and Luckey both hold extensive defense contracts through their companies. [4][5][6]