Trump threatens Musk over potential support for Democrats

In a bold warning, U.S. President Donald Trump has cautioned tech billionaire Elon Musk about facing “serious consequences” if he decides to financially back Democratic candidates in the 2026 midterm elections. Musk, once a major supporter of Trump’s campaign, is now entangled in a public fallout with the former president.

Trump made the threat during an interview with NBC News, though he did not elaborate on what the repercussions might entail. Musk’s companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, rely heavily on U.S. federal contracts—potential leverage in this tense standoff.

Several top Republicans and influential donors have reportedly urged Trump and Musk to resolve their feud, fearing that continued conflict could cause lasting political and economic damage. However, Trump indicated that their relationship is effectively over, stating, “I would assume so, yeah.”

The rift intensified after Musk harshly criticized Trump’s tax and spending policies, calling them an “abomination.” The situation escalated further when Musk hinted at Trump’s alleged connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Musk had claimed Trump was mentioned in classified government files related to Epstein, though he later deleted the statement from his platform, X.

Trump, though named in unsealed court documents linked to Epstein in early 2024, has not been charged with any wrongdoing. He has denied visiting Epstein’s private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where the late financier was accused of running a sex trafficking ring.

Despite their deteriorating ties, Trump had recently praised Musk’s departure from the government’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Vice President JD Vance also expressed concern over Musk’s attacks on Trump, calling them a misstep rooted in emotion and suggesting there might still be a path to reconciliation.

Additionally, Trump confirmed that the decision to extradite Salvadoran immigrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia—accused of smuggling undocumented migrants—was made by the Department of Justice, not by him. He noted he had no communication with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele on the matter.