President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to billionaire Elon Musk, cautioning against funding Democratic candidates in the 2026 midterms, as their once-close alliance continues to unravel publicly. 

In an NBC News interview aired Saturday, Trump said Musk would face “very serious consequences” for such actions, though he did not specify what those might entail for the tech titan, whose companies rely heavily on U.S. government contracts.

The escalating feud, marked by Musk’s criticism of Trump’s tax and spending legislation as an “abomination,” has alarmed Republican leaders and donors, who fear lasting political and economic damage. Despite calls for reconciliation, Trump suggested the rift may be irreparable, stating, “I’d assume [our relationship] is over.”

Tensions flared further when Musk, in a now-deleted X post, alleged Trump’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein, the late sex offender, were detailed in unreleased government files. 

Trump’s administration is reviewing extensive Epstein-related documents, which his supporters claim will expose complicit public figures. While Trump’s name appeared in unsealed 2024 court documents tied to Epstein, he faces no accusations of wrongdoing. He has denied visiting Epstein’s private island, where prosecutors alleged sex trafficking occurred.

Last week, Trump praised Musk’s work at the Department of Government Efficiency, but Vice President JD Vance called Musk’s attacks a “huge mistake.” 

Speaking on comedian Theo Von’s podcast Friday, Vance described Musk as “emotional” but expressed hope for reconciliation, noting, “He’s gone so nuclear, it may not be possible.”

Trump also clarified that the Justice Department, not he, decided to return Salvadoran immigrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the U.S. to face charges for transporting undocumented migrants. He denied discussing the case with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele.

Source: Al Jazeera 

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