The ongoing tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump and the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, Elon Musk, reached a boiling point on Thursday. The tech mogul called for an impeachment process against the President, further intensifying the feud. Musk responded affirmatively with a strong "Yes" to a follower on X, who proposed impeaching Trump and expressed support for Musk in the escalating rivalry between the former allies.
Ian Miles Cheong, a prominent Musk supporter and right-wing activist on X, tweeted: "President vs. Elon. Who wins? My bet is on Elon. Trump should be impeached and replaced by JD Vance." Musk simply replied, "Yes."
The discord could potentially have ramifications for global space security. Through his social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Musk instructed SpaceX to commence the immediate dismantling of its Dragon spacecraft, a crucial asset in transporting supplies and crew to the International Space Station (ISS). This move came mere hours after Trump threatened to cancel all federal contracts with Musk due to his criticism of the White House's tax policy.
"We cannot conduct critical-risk missions with a government acting on personal vendettas. For national security and institutional integrity, the Dragon program is suspended immediately," Musk declared on X.
The Dragon spacecraft has been vital for ISS logistics since the U.S. stopped using Russian Soyuz capsules. Its sudden withdrawal poses a significant challenge for NASA and other allied space agencies that rely on it to keep the international station operational.
This announcement adds to a tumultuous week in the Musk-Trump relationship, once seen as a strategic alliance. The tech billionaire has not only publicly criticized the President's tax plan—calling it a "repugnant abomination"—but also suggested that Trump would lose the 2024 elections without his financial and media support.
Trump fired back on his platform, Truth Social, claiming Musk was "washed up" and had "gone crazy," asserting that he himself had removed Musk from the government by canceling the federal mandate for electric vehicles "that nobody wanted."
"I took away his mandate that forced everyone to buy electric cars nobody wanted, and he just went CRAZY," wrote Trump.
This episode signifies a point of no return in an already fractured relationship. Beyond tax issues and the Dragon's suspension, Musk implied on Thursday that Trump is linked to the Epstein case, suggesting his name appears in classified documents from the child sex trafficking scandal that rocked the American elite.
"The truth will come out," Musk wrote, asserting that this is "the real reason why the Epstein files haven't been released."
According to political analysts, the conflict between the U.S. President and one of the world's most influential entrepreneurs has transcended mere political or economic disagreements.
Elon Musk and Donald Trump Feud: Key Questions
Why did Elon Musk call for Trump's impeachment?
Elon Musk advocated for Trump's impeachment following tensions over the President's tax policy and a suggestion from a follower on X. Musk has criticized Trump's policies and suggested that the President would struggle in the 2024 elections without his support.
What are the implications of Musk ordering SpaceX to dismantle the Dragon spacecraft?
The dismantling of the Dragon spacecraft could disrupt logistics for the International Space Station, posing challenges for NASA and allied space agencies that rely on it for critical missions.
How has Trump responded to Musk's actions?
Trump has responded by criticizing Musk on his platform, Truth Social, calling him "washed up" and stating that he removed Musk from government influence by canceling mandates for electric vehicles.