According to a report Trump has been privately telling associates that Musk is a “big-time drug addict,” a remark that reflects the deepening personal and political feud between the two high-profile figures.
The Washington Post, citing 17 sources familiar with the matter, revealed that Trump has made several private phone calls in recent days in which he expressed outrage over Musk’s recent behavior and political actions.
In at least one call, Trump explicitly labeled Musk as a drug addict, a claim that reportedly stemmed from frustrations following multiple clashes with the Tesla and SpaceX CEO.
The falling out between Trump and Musk reportedly began over a week ago after it was revealed that Jared Isaacman—Musk’s preferred candidate to head NASA—had made political donations to Democratic causes.
The move reportedly infuriated Trump, who viewed it as a betrayal, particularly given his long-standing support for Musk’s business ventures.
Compounding the situation, Musk has increasingly taken public swipes at Trump. He recently criticized Trump’s proposed federal budget and, on social media, echoed calls for the president’s impeachment—an extraordinary rebuke from someone previously considered a key outside adviser to the Trump administration.
In response to the escalating tension, Trump reportedly urged members of his inner circle, including Vice President JD Vance, not to further inflame the situation.
Unlike his usual approach of responding to criticism with fiery posts on social media, Trump has taken a more cautious route in handling this split—perhaps reflecting the political and strategic complexity of his fractured relationship with one of the world’s most powerful tech CEOs.
Behind the scenes, the feud has spilled over into confrontations with Trump’s cabinet. In one particularly volatile incident reported by the Post, Musk reportedly got into a heated argument with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
According to Steve Bannon, who witnessed the confrontation, Bessent accused Musk of being a “total fraud,” prompting Musk to physically shove Bessent in the ribs “like a rugby player.” The situation escalated until aides intervened and separated the two men.
Trump, upon hearing about the altercation, reportedly remarked, “This is too much.”
The situation worsened when Musk publicly accused Trump of being the reason why documents related to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein remained sealed. That accusation reportedly led Trump to consider reviewing Musk’s lucrative government contracts.
By Friday, Trump was telling aides he was done with Musk and was even contemplating getting rid of his Tesla vehicles. One source close to both men suggested that any reconciliation would be unlikely.
“There’s hope that there’s going to be a reconciliation,” the source said. “But it’ll never be the same.”
Once an influential advisor and ally, Musk now appears to be firmly on the outs with Trump, as personal insults and political infighting overshadow their formerly cooperative relationship.